A charity founder, a glassblowing expert and community hero, a world-leading expert diabetes expert, and the man behind some of the millions of government documents written on vellum have all been honoured by the Queen. This year is the centenary of the Queen's Birthday Honours, and five people from Devon have been named. <\/p>\n
Ruth Airdie and Norman Veitch has been awarded MBE's, and Brian Medhurst has been awarded a BEM, while Andrew Hattersley, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University and a diabetes consultant at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded a CBE. <\/p>\n
Ruth Airdrie, 64, from Aylesbeare, is the founder of Rainbow Living, was awarded an MBE for services to Adults with Learning Disabilities. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In 2006 she raised money to establish Rainbow Living and opened the first home in 2008. She knew other families with similar special needs issues and felt that it would be better if young adults could have secure futures through special accommodation. This also offered parents vital respite from their caring responsibilities. Each young adult has gradually learned to co-habit with the support of the committed staff. <\/p>\n
The charity also runs holidays for the residents which enable them to try new activities with support and friends. Such was its success that Rainbow Living opened a second home in 2012 in Torquay and have now bought their third home in Exeter. <\/p>\n
She worked for NHS Devon as head of clinical effectiveness. She has secured funding from Sainsbury's and other local businesses and has planned a variety of events including fashion shows at John Lewis, music concert, book sales and other events in Devon. Since the charity was founded it is estimated that she has raised 200,000. <\/p>\n
Ruth said: It is a real honour to have been appointed an MBE and I feel truly privileged to have had the opportunity to support learning disabled adults through Rainbow Living's accommodation projects. <\/p>\n
I am so proud that the tireless commitment of everyone involved with Rainbow Living has been recognised in this way; our work shows how a group of normal, everyday people can put something back and make a real, lasting and positive difference not only to our Rainbow tenants, but also to their wider families and local communities. <\/p>\n
I am overwhelmed by this as it was a bit of a shock, but I am delighted, and I feel honoured that my charity work has been recognised.\" <\/p>\n
Norman Veitch, 70, from Dartington, has been awarded MBE for services to glassblowing. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
His contribution to glass art is invaluable. Along with his colleague, Brian Jones, they started work at the Pyrex factory in Sunderland, later known as Corning Glass Works. They were trained in the art of lampworking - the glassblowing technique using a gas burner and worked as glassblowers fabricating complex chemical apparatus for use in laboratories. <\/p>\n
When the industry declined around 1980, they found that the properties of the glass made it an excellent medium for complex sculptural work, so they created ornamental glass. <\/p>\n
In 1996 they jointly founded Wearside Glass Sculptures. They hold daily demonstrations of lampworking, entertaining visitors and informing them about the properties of glass and the history of glassmaking in Sunderland. Their reputation has attracted commissions from all over the UK, helping artists realise their ideas in glass, to restoring family heirlooms. They have preserved many historical artefacts from the region. <\/p>\n
They are also dedicated to teaching their skills to others and generously share their vast experience and knowledge with students. They have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of glass and have adapted their work according to the changing economic climate. As well as being talented creative glassmakers, they have become role models for many young artists. <\/p>\n
Brian Medhurst, 82, from Yelverton, has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Yelverton, <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In 1998 he founded the Yelvercare, a system of local volunteers who man a phone and respond to anyone in the catchment area who needs help such as transport, home visits or small DIY projects etc. Since its foundation, Yelvercare has conducted over 8000 tasks and has a volunteer base of 148 volunteers and 130 clients, many of whom are in need of regular use of the service. He has also been involved in the creation of a play park in Yelverton. <\/p>\n
His tireless commitment to his community has resulted in children of all ages enjoying the one acre park. Through consultation, he has also established Yelverton's own cinema in the village hall. He sourced the funding of a fully functional cinema which operates throughout the year. <\/p>\n
For several years he was also been the trustee of the Fortescue Garden Trust providing invaluable financial and investment advice. He also supports student gardeners and the work he has put in for the trust resulted in the garden being of great importance and benefit to the community, particularly the retired. <\/p>\n
Brian said: It is really good news and the icing on the cake for me. I founded the charity 20 years ago, and five years ago we got the Queens Award for voluntary service, so this is the icing on the cake for me really to get this personal honour. The important thing is how much of a success we made this and it has been a great success. <\/p>\n
It was a nice surprise to get this award. I am retiring at the end of the year so this has come at the perfect time. It is with great joy and delight that I this award.\" <\/p>\n
A world-leading expert diabetes expert has been awarded the CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list for his work revolutionising diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.<\/p>\n
Andrew Hattersley, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University and a diabetes consultant at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, has won a string of international awards for his work in combining genetic diagnosis with clinical treatment to make a real difference for patients with genetic sub types of diabetes across the world. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Professor Hattersley and his colleague Professor Sian Ellard set up their molecular genetics laboratory in the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital to do both research and clinical diagnostic resting in 1995, and have built a team that has gained an international reputation for excellence. <\/p>\n
Professor Hattersley discovered that some babies with the sub-type neonatal diabetes which is diagnosed before they are six months old - can be treated more effectively with a simple tablet than with daily multiple insulin injections. This discovery has changed international guidelines, and means these patients have better glucose control and better quality of life. In the last week they have received samples from England, Belgium, India and South Africa for this life changing diabetes test. <\/p>\n
Professor Hattersley said: \"I'm delighted and humbled to receive such a prestigious award. This recognises the outstanding contributions of my talented colleagues here at Exeter both in the diabetes and molecular genetics department at the hospital and in the research departments of the University of Exeter Medical School. . I feel privileged to work with such an excellent team, whose work has benefited tens of thousands of people worldwide.\" <\/p>\n
Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: \"I cannot think of anyone who deserves such an honour more than Professor Andrew Hattersley. His internationally-renowned research into the genetic causes of diabetes has literally transformed the lives of thousands of patients worldwide through the development of innovative treatments. Andrew is without doubt one of the preeminent clinical scientists in the UK, who has made major contributions in his field, revolutionising treatment. Andrew also nurtures talent in the next generation of researchers. He and his team have trained academics who have won countless awards. The whole University community offers Andrew our heartfelt congratulations.\" <\/p>\n
The man behind some of the millions of government documents written on vellum, is made an MBE. <\/p>\n
Wim Visscher, now semi-retired and living in Modbury in Devon, is a partner in the firm of William Cowley Parchment and Vellum Works, in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, and great-great grandson its founder. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The company Britain's only remaining vellum maker has been in the limelight recently because a parliamentary committee has controversially recommended switching to paper to save money. <\/p>\n
Vellum, made from sheepskin, has been used to print the Magna Carta, the Domesday Book and thousands of other historical documents going back a millennium or more. <\/p>\n
\"Most of the millions of official documents written on vellum are still in good condition,\" Mr Visscher said. <\/p>\n
Vellum and parchment are still used for important documents and high-end bookbinding. <\/p>\n
He was nominated for his honour by Heritage Craft Association. <\/p>\n
\"It was a complete surprise,\" he said. \"You work away in your own little corner of life. Mine is a very unusual business and hardly anyone knows about it.\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Queen's Birthday Honours awarded to three deserving Devon heroes - Devon Live<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A charity founder, a glassblowing expert and community hero, a world-leading expert diabetes expert, and the man behind some of the millions of government documents written on vellum have all been honoured by the Queen. This year is the centenary of the Queen's Birthday Honours, and five people from Devon have been named. Ruth Airdie and Norman Veitch has been awarded MBE's, and Brian Medhurst has been awarded a BEM, while Andrew Hattersley, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University and a diabetes consultant at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded a CBE. Continue reading