British Nationals Abroad Recognised for Outstanding Contributions in King’s Birthday Honours List
The UK government’s recent announcement of the King’s Birthday Honours List has recognised 110 individuals for their exceptional service to the UK overseas or internationally. According to a press release from the UK Government, these individuals are being honoured for their contributions to British foreign policy and international development, as well as voluntary and charitable work.
The list includes Stephen Kavanagh, formerly the Executive Director of Police Services at INTERPOL, who has been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for his outstanding leadership and international public service. As the world’s most senior policing official, Kavanagh served with distinction, earning a reputation for his dedication to international policing and public safety.
The highest honour awarded on the list goes to Sir Philip Barton, who has been appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) for his exceptional contribution and achievement over a long career. As the UK’s most senior diplomat and the first Permanent Under-Secretary of the merged Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Barton demonstrated outstanding dedication, strategic vision, and compassionate leadership.
Sir Olly Robbins, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service, praised the recipients, saying: "These honours are testament to the dedication, effort and achievements of dozens of individuals, who represent the very best of the UK internationally. On behalf of the FCDO, I’d like to congratulate and thank them for their exceptional work."
The Overseas and International Birthday Honours list also recognises a wide range of contributions at lower levels, with awards to British nationals for exceptional voluntary and charitable service that has enhanced the UK’s reputation overseas. One such recipient is Valerie Taylor, Founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Bangladesh, who has received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to disadvantaged people in Bangladesh.
Valerie Taylor has dedicated her life to promoting health and the rights of people with disability in Bangladesh, who remain the most marginalised members of Bangladeshi society. She established the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in 1979, which has grown to include a 100-bed hospital and 12 centres in different parts of the country. The CRP provides medical treatment, rehabilitation, and support services, and promotes the empowerment of disabled people through community-based services, advocacy, and networking on disability issues and the rights of disabled girls and women.
On learning of her award, Valerie Taylor said: "Receiving such an award is a perfect opportunity for me to thank and congratulate the staff of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) for their commitment to the work of complete rehabilitation for our patients over these last 46 years."
Other notable recipients include Matthew Featherstone, President of Cricket Brazil, who has received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to sport and disadvantaged communities, women and girls overseas. Featherstone co-founded Cricket Brazil in 2001, which has expanded cricket across the country and provided opportunities for disadvantaged children through sport.
The programme, which started in 2011, now benefits over 10,000 children from impoverished communities in five states across Brazil. Featherstone has also created the Cricket Like a Girl programme, which encourages more girls to play the sport. As a result, Brazil became the first country to give professional cricket contracts to women before men.
Susan Ozturk, Founder and Trustee of the Vera Thomson English School in Rakhine State, Myanmar, has received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to children’s education and healthcare in Myanmar. The school, founded in 2001, has grown from a single room to a large compound with numerous classrooms, a library, and IT suite.
Elizabeth Burrowes, Director of Music Education at Brass for Africa in Uganda, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to music education for disadvantaged young people in Africa. Burrowes has positively transformed the lives of thousands of young people and their communities through music.
These individuals, along with many others, are being recognised for their outstanding contributions to British foreign policy and international development, as well as voluntary and charitable work. Their stories serve as a testament to the dedication and achievements of British nationals abroad, who are making a positive impact on communities around the world.
