THE executive headteacher of St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre has been appointed an OBE for her services to early years education.
Lucy Driver is one of several local people named in the King’s New Year Honours List.
Ms Driver, who has been at St Paul’s for 23 years, is a leading figure in early years education in Bristol and beyond. She has been honoured for her outstanding contribution to the sector.
She said she was surprised and humbled to learn of the honour.
Jane Jackson, from Henleaze, who founded the Bristol Grandparents’ Support Group in 2007, has been appointed MBE for her services to older people.
Jane started the group after a breakdown in family relationships led to many lost years of contact with her beloved granddaughter.
The group, developed and run by its members, now offers support to grandparents across the UK and beyond. It provides information through written media, telephone support and in-person meetings as well as guidance and advice and awareness raising. In 2023, it set up a bench on the Downs to remember and acknowledge estranged grandparents.
Describing the moment she was told, Jane says modestly: “There was no mistaking that the envelope held something quite important, stamped with URGENT-PERSONAL and CABINET OFFICE. It isn’t often I am speechless but when I opened it and read the content I was lost for words.
“I have done nothing to warrant this honour. All I did was to set up BGSG, a group to help me as well as others, at a time when there was so much darkness, so many unanswered questions.”
She insists that it is really the grandparents themselves who are at the heart of the group. They are, she says, “the ones who come with open hearts and no judgement and give so much love and care to others who are hurting just as much as they are. They are the ones who deserve the honour.”
Four people who play an instrumental role in serving the people of Avon and Somerset have been recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.
Desmond Brown, who is the founder of Growing Futures UK and Vice Chair of the Independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel, has been appointed MBE for services to the community of Avon and Somerset.
Senior Force Chaplain Andy Paget and volunteer Douglas Allen have also been appointed MBE and BEM respectively for services to policing and the community.
Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, of the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), has also been recognised for his distinguished service to policing and will be the recipient of a King’s Policing Medal (KPM).
Chief Constable Sarah Crew said all four recipients deserved the public recognition for years of outstanding public service.
The New Year Honours are awarded following recommendations by the prime minister or senior ministers. Members of the public can also recommend people for an award. Honours are also given out to mark the King’s birthday in June.