OBEs and MBEs were awarded to the leaders of major institutions and regional organisations in the King’s second Birthday Honours
Notable figures from the museum and heritage sector have received a range of honours in the King’s Birthday Honours list this year.
The recognitions spanned leadership roles at major national institutions as well as community-focused roles across the regions. It is the second year that birthday honours have been awarded by King Charles since he was crowned.
Awards in the museum sector
Awarded a CBE in the museums sector were Art Historian and Director of the Ashmolean Museum Dr Alexander ‘Xa’ Sturgis for services to Culture.
Dr Sturgis has been Director of the Ashmolean Museum since 2014.Before taking up his current post he was Director of the Holburne Museum in Bath, and from 1990 to 2005 worked at the National Gallery in a number of roles including Exhibitions and Programmes Curator.
The Director of Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum, Sally MacDonald, also received an OBE for services to the Arts and to Heritage, as did Nicholas Poole, the former CEO of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and David Rollinson Scientific Associate, at the Natural History Museum, for services to Museum Science and to Public Health.
MacDonald said: “It’s a great recognition of the wonderful work of everyone at the museum and all our partners across the city and beyond. We are all passionate about the role that museums and heritage can play in inspiring the next generation of innovators and creating opportunities for young people to realise the future ideas that will change the world”.
Also awarded a CBE is former Imperial War Museums Chair Matthew Westerman for services to Museums and to Cultural Heritage.
Awarded an OBE in this year’s list were Karen Michelle Charter, Head of the International Slavery Museum. Charter is the former CEO of Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre and Associated Trustee of National Museums Liverpool, and was recognised for services to the community in Liverpool, Merseyside.
Awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) was Neil Williamson, a Curator at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Whitby Museum, for voluntary services to the institution.
Awards in the heritage sector
Recognising services to the heritage sector, OBEs were awarded to Professor Tracy Borman, CEO of Heritage Education Trust and Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, as was Emma Louise Dagnes, MD and acting CEO of Alexandra Park and Palace in north London.
Also receiving an OBE were Sarah Jane McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust in Rotheram; Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Francis Thomas James Anthony Riley of York, the former Director of the National Firearms Centre at Royal Armouries.
Receiving an MBE for services in the heritage sector were Heather Elizabeth Broughton, a former Committee Member at the National Lottery Heritage Fund Midlands and East, and Nicola Wynne, Director of Development at St Paul’s Cathedral, who was recognised particularly the Remember Me Project, which memorialises those who have died as a result of COVID.
Receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for heritage were Valerie Elaine Bryant, Manager and Trustee of Knutsford Heritage Centre in Cheshire; Shirley Ellen Goodhew, Chair of Chatham Dockyard Historical Society for services to Heritage and to the community in Kent, and Jean Waldrum Grossett for services to Rachel House and St Andrews House, Fife
