King's Birthday Honours list: Cornwall's pioneers featured

The man who has put Cornwall on the space map, a professor of gaming, a veterans volunteer and a postmistress are among the people in Cornwall to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Ian Jones, the founder of Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd on the Lizard peninsula, has been made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for his service to space communication. Professor Tanya Krzywinska, from Falmouth University, received an MBE for services to Higher Education and to the Video Games Industry while Sharron Adams, the manager of Covid-19 Children's Home also received an MBE for services to disabled children and young people.

They are among a dozen people in the county to receive a gong in this year's King's Birthday Honours list. They join Post Office campaigner Alan Bates, former prime minister Gordon Brown and artist Tracey Emin who are among the famous faces in the UK to make the list with knighthoods and damehoods.

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The highest award went to Mr Brown who was made a Companion of Honour, while Sir Alan was knighted in recognition of his campaigning work which highlighted the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Emin, actress Imelda Staunton and fashion accessories designer Anya Hindmarch were all made dames in the list, while writer Armando Iannucci was made a CBE and cyclist Mark Cavendish was knighted. Singer Rebecca Ferguson, Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon and Countdown's Susie Dent were among the showbiz names to be made MBEs.

In the sporting world, former cyclist Chris Boardman and former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness were made CBEs, while former England footballer Karen Carney was made an OBE. More than 1,000 people from across the UK received honours in Friday's list.

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Sir Alan, the founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance who was played by Toby Jones in an ITV drama about the scandal, said he was "honoured" by his knighthood.

The former subpostmaster, who previously rejected an OBE honour, told the PA news agency: "The time I was asked about the OBE. I felt it would have been quite offensive to many of the group if I'd accepted it. But I do know that I've had hundreds of emails and letters of support over the years and a lot of people do seem to think that I should receive some sort of recognition for the work that I've done for them or on their behalf.

"I know I'm the recipient of it and all the rest of it, but it's on behalf of the group as well - and recognition of the horrendous things that have happened to them and the story's not over yet."

Dame Tracey, who is known for her autobiographical and confessional artwork, said: "Dame Tracey has a good ring to it. I'm very, very happy. Another brilliant surprise in my life."

Below is the list of those in Cornwall who were recognised in this year's birthday honours list.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Ian Martin Jones. Founder, Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. For services to Space Communications. ( Helston, Cornwall)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Professor Tanya Krzywinska. For services to Higher Education and to the Video Games Industry. (Penryn, Cornwall).

About her award, Tanya said: "I was completely blown away to receive the letter of recommendation for the MBE. It’s left me feeling incredibly grateful for the many opportunities that have led me into a career in higher education and that have arisen from working in the Arts and Humanities and with the games industry.

“Looking back over 30-or-so-years in higher education, I would never have guessed at the start of my career that games would become such a prominent economic force in the creative industries. Back in the 80s, I did however have a hunch that games were the new artistic frontier.

"This led me to become an evangelist of games within academia with the aim of bringing together artists and programmers to learn the craft of making games and to research their potential. I guess the writing is on the wall. Follow your passion."

Sharron Adams. Manager, Covid-19 Children's Home, Cornwall County Council. For services to Disabled Children and Young People. ( St Austell, Cornwall)

Anthony Atkinson. For services to Wildlife and Ecology. (Callington, Cornwall)

Andrew James Lockett. Treasurer, The South Atlantic Medal Association. For voluntary services to Veterans. (Torpoint, Cornwall)

Clare Pooley. Chief of Staff, House of Commons. For services to Parliament. ( Truro, Cornwall)

Pamela Waters. Strategic Lead, Kernow English Hub, Newquay, Cornwall. For services to Education. (Newquay, Cornwall)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Sally Margaret Bourton. Postmistress. For services to the community in Trewoon, Cornwall. (Saint Austell, Cornwall)

Sheila Ann Cholwill. For services to Charity and to the community in Bridgerule, Devon. ( Bude, Cornwall)

Sarah Jane Corbridge. For services to the community in Helston, Cornwall. (Helston, Cornwall)

David Sims Farley. For services to the community in Wadebridge and Lanreath, Cornwall. (Wadebridge, Cornwall)

David Peter Nicoll. Deputy 2nd Coxswain, Royal National Lifeboat Institution Falmouth Station, and Fundraising and Partnership Lead, South West, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. For services to Maritime Safety. (Falmouth, Cornwall)

Maureen Grace Rickard. Lately Postmistress, St Minver Post Office. For services to the community in St. Minver, Cornwall. (Wadebridge, Cornwall)