University of Hertfordshire Honorary Doctorates and Alumni are recognised at the King’s Birthday Honours 2023
The University of Hertfordshire is delighted to announce that two alumni and three of our Honorary Doctorates have been recognised in the King’s first Birthday Honours list. The King’s Birthday Honours 2023 were announced on 17 June, and they mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK.
Dr John Martin was awarded His Majesty the King’s Ambulance Service Medal for distinguished service.
An alumnus of Herts, Dr Martin is Chief Paramedic and Deputy Chief Executive at London Ambulance Service. He graduated with a BSc in Paramedic Science from the University of Hertfordshire and has since gone on to join the College of Paramedics, where he was made President in 2017. In 2021, he was appointed the first Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust and has recently been appointed a Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire. Among his career highlights, he has worked as paramedic advisor to the emergency medical committee during the London 2012 Olympics games, and has given evidence in both the House of Lords and at the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee.
Herts alumnus Mohammed Younis was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Early Year Education and to the community in Peterborough.
Younis is the owner of Star Day Nurseries in Peterborough, and previously studied as an MBA Executive student at the University of Hertfordshire from 2017 to 2019.
On receiving the news, Younis said: “This is an honour for me, and I feel privileged that I was considered for such an amazing award. I am also grateful to the University of Hertfordshire for giving me the opportunity to complete my MBA”.
David Clarke was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Paralympic sport.
Clarke is a Paralympic blind footballer who took up the role of Chief Executive at the British Paralympic Association in March this year after serving on the Board for six years. He has represented Team GB? 144 times in blind football, scoring 128 goals. He has also competed for ParalympicsGB at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympic Games.
He received an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Hertfordshire in 2013.
World Netball President Liz Nicholl CBE, has been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DME) in recognition of her services to netball and sport.
In 2019 she took on the role of World Netball President after retiring from a full-time career in sport. She was first appointed in 1980 as the first CEO of England Netball, which she stayed at for more than 15 years. Nicholl visited the University of Hertfordshire when she opened the Institute of Sport on de Havilland Campus in 2022, and was given an Honorary Doctorate by the University in 2015.
Speaking on her excitement of becoming a Dame, Liz said: “It has been a real privilege to serve in various roles in sport over the last 40 plus years, working alongside really talented colleagues, and I take huge delight in seeing the recent significant growth in opportunities for women and girls to enjoy participating in sport, both in the UK and internationally”.
Michael McGrath has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for charitable services to People with Muscular Dystrophy.
McGrath is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Muscle Help Foundation charity. The Foundation , which was founded 20 years ago, delivers a wish fulfilment mode, supporting the cherished dreams and aspirations of those aged 8-28 years old with MD and allied neuromuscular conditions.
McGrath was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Hertfordshire in 2018 in recognition of his motivation and inspirational work for persons with a disability.
Speaking to The Daily Brit about his honour, McGrath says: “I am truly overwhelmed by this news. It was very unexpected. I feel truly humbled in this moment, but the work and the need for our services continues. This is my life’s mission”.
Congratulations to all those at the University in recipient of the King’s Birthday Honours 2023.