“It is an extraordinary privilege and an honour – as well as a complete and utter surprise”
Aardman co-founders, Peter Lord and David Sproxton have been knighted. The pair are pictured at Lightroom in King’s Cross, London, where Aardman’s upcoming immersive projection show Larger than Life will be hosted.(Image: Justin Sutcliffe for Lightroom KX)
Key Bristol figures have been celebrated in the King’s Birthday Honours. Among them are founders of Aardman Animations Peter Lord and David Sproxton, who have been knighted.
The Knight Batchelor accolades come two decades after they were both given a CBE in 2006. The Oscar-winning animation studio is behind Wallace & Gromit, Shaun The Sheep, Chicken Run and Morph.
The duo are both knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to the animation industry, the creative industries and to charity. Aardman started in 1972 when the friends registered the company name, initially to cash a BBC cheque from a stop-motion animation they made as teenagers.
They officially opened their studio in Bristol in 1976 and created characters such as Morph for the BBC, before student Nick Park joined in 1985 and later developed Wallace and Gromit. They took the development of the company from a two-man partnership to one of the pre-eminent animation houses in the industry.
View the full list of Bristol residents featured this year
In a joint statement, they said: “We both feel it is an extraordinary privilege and an honour – as well as a complete and utter surprise – to be recognised in this way. Whilst the honour is being awarded to us as individuals, it really reflects on Aardman as a company.
“Over 50 years we have worked with hundreds, if not thousands, of brilliant people whose dedication, talent and skills have contributed to making Aardman a globally recognised and multi-award-winning studio, and one regarded by many as a national treasure here in the UK. As we accept these awards, we humbly bow and salute all of those who have joined us on this extraordinary journey.”
Sir David co-produced Aardman’s first feature film Chicken Run as well as Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, and the CGI feature Flushed Away, as well as Shaun The Sheep Movie, Early Man and A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.
As a director, Sir Peter has received two Oscar nominations for best animated short, the first in 1992 for Adam, and for Wat’s Pig in 1996. He was also nominated for best animated feature for Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists in 2013.
He has also earned Bafta nominations for Adam, The Amazing Adventures Of Morph, War Story and Chicken Run and, as a producer for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit.
Andrew Street, chair of trustees at FareShare South West has been given the MBE for services to disadvantaged people in Bristol. FareShare South West describes itself as joining the dots between food waste and hunger, turning an environmental problem into lasting social good.
Andrew Street, chair of trustees at FareShare South West (Image: FareShare South West)
Street founded the organisation in 2007 to tackle urban food poverty by rescuing good-to-eat food directly from the food industry. Since then, the charity has grown to support over 42,000 individuals from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, with hubs in Bristol and Plymouth and over 350 volunteers.
On being made MBE he said: “This award reflects the hard work of staff, trustees and volunteers at FareShare South West over nearly 20 years. I’m sad to say that during that time the need for affordable, healthy food has only grown – in Bristol and across the south west. But I know firsthand that this city and this region is replete with committed, dedicated people and organisations who are tackling these challenges together. It’s my privilege to be part of that movement.”
FareShare South West CEO Lucy Bearn said: “Andy has been at the forefront of lifechanging impact for local people for over 20 years, and the whole team is delighted to see him recognised. FareShare South West started as a tiny operation with deliveries by pedal-bike. Last year we rescued food for over four million meals, with a retail value of a staggering £6.3 million – food that would be wasted while people go hungry.
“Andy’s vision to join those twin problems up remains transformative and inspiring – and he’s playing an essential role in establishing new sustainable support for the future, with a Bristol Multibank on the way in collaboration with the West of England Mayoral Authority and Bristol Charities, and many opportunities to access much more food.”
While long-serving Scout volunteer Neil Salter has been awarded an MBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Scouting and dedicated voluntary service to young people and communities across Avon. The award citation recognises his service as chair of board of trustees for Avon Scouts, acknowledging his significant contribution to Scouting and the positive impact his volunteering has made on countless young people, volunteers and local communities.
Long-serving Scout volunteer Neil Salter has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours(Image: The Scouts)
Over almost six decades of service, Neil has held so many different roles, helped generations of young people access opportunities: develop confidence, learn valuable life skills and become active members of their communities. His leadership and commitment have also supported hundreds of volunteers, helping Scouts to thrive across Avon and in Portishead.
Scouting has become a true family affair for the Salter’s as Neil met his wife through it, his daughter met her husband through the movement – and along with his wife both his son and daughter have held leadership roles within Scouts.
Reacting to the accolade, Neil said: “I was astonished and incredibly honoured to receive this recognition. The Scout motto is ‘Be Prepared’, but I certainly was totally unprepared for this. For nearly 60 years, scouting has given me many opportunities along with lifelong friendships. To me, scouting has always been about giving young people the chance to grow in confidence, develop life skills, and experience adventure. Volunteering with the Scouts has been my way of putting something back into a movement that helped shape my life.
He added: “This recognition is not just for me, it reflects the incredible dedication of volunteers across Avon who give up their time every week to support young people and make a positive difference in our communities.” The award recognises not only Neil’s exceptional dedication to scouting, but also the lasting impact his volunteering has had on countless young people, families and communities.
Through his tireless service, he has helped create opportunities that have changed lives, strengthened community connections and inspired others to volunteer. It’s this sustained and significant contribution to society that has led to him being recognised with the award of an MBE.
Four University of Bristol researchers have been recognised for outstanding contributions of a materials engineer, an epidemiologist, a genomics scientist and an ophthalmology researcher. Emeritus Professor David Gunnell is an epidemiologist and public health physician and has been awarded a CBE for services to public health and suicide prevention.
Emeritus Professor David Gunnell at Bristol University is an epidemiologist and public health physician and has been awarded a CBE for services to public health and suicide prevention in the King’s Birthday Honours.(Image: Bristol University)
His research programme focuses on understanding life-course influences on adult mental health and suicide prevention. He has been a trustee for Samaritans and worked with a number of other charitable organisations in the field of mental health. His research has contributed to capacity building and suicide-reduction strategies in the UK and globally.
He has been a member of England’s and the WHO’s suicide prevention strategy groups. During the pandemic he led the International Covid-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration that helped contribute to understanding the impact of COVID and associated public health prevention measures on suicide risk.
Professor Gunnell said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. Research is a team effort and over the last 30 years I’ve been privileged to work with a wonderful group of research colleagues, support staff, mental and public health professionals, volunteers and people bereaved by suicide. This award in no small part reflects the honour it has been to work with them and I hope it helps raise awareness of the daily tragedy of suicide around the UK and worldwide and the importance of concerted societal efforts to prevent these deaths.”
Professor John Sparrow, Honorary Professor of Ophthalmic Health Services Research and Applied Epidemiology, receives an MBE for services to ophthalmology. His work has made a huge contribution to the fields of glaucoma and cataract treatment. As an NHS Consultant Ophthalmologist based at the Bristol Eye Hospital, he treated patients and led multidisciplinary teams for over 30 years.
During that time, Professor Sparrow spearheaded a national audit into cataract surgery and initiated an age-related macular degeneration audit, while also leading on the development of NICE and Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ glaucoma guidelines. He has produced over 300 publications, including 120 original research papers.
Professor Sparrow said: “Being awarded an MBE is a truly incredible honour. I am at the same time humbled and immensely proud that my work has been recognised in this way in the King’s Birthday Honours. Without the huge and much appreciated support of my work from innumerable colleagues, family and friends, this could never have been achieved. I am most grateful to you all.”
Andrew Mumford, Emeritus Professor of Genomic Medicine at Bristol Medical School, has been awarded an MBE for his services to genomic medicine. The honour recognised Professor Mumford’s groundbreaking research and clinical leadership that has significantly improved genetic diagnosis and improving clinical care for inherited disorders and cancer in the NHS and worldwide.
Andrew Mumford, Emeritus Professor of Genomic Medicine at Bristol Medical School, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to genomic medicine.(Image: Bristol University)
Professor Mumford led the groundbreaking NHS 100,000 Genomes Project in SW England and as Medical Director of the South West England NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub, he oversaw the development and implementation of genomic medicine for rare diseases and cancer across South West England.
As research director of the SW England NHS Genomic Medicine Service alliance, Professor Mumford implemented the Newborn Genomes Programme (Generation study) at NHS sites across SW England that aims to determine the efficacy of using genomic technology to screen for more than 200 rare inherited disorders in 100,000 newborn babies.
Earlier identification of rare disorders before symptoms occur will enable families access the right support, monitoring and treatment through the NHS much sooner. Timely intervention can help prevent longer-term health complications, reduce hospital admissions, and support children to live healthier lives.
Professor Mumford has also assembled a discovery research team at the University of Bristol that that developed new analytical methodology to identify the genetic basis of multiple heritable rare diseases. This high impact work has significantly advanced genetic diagnosis and improved clinical care for children and families worldwide who are affected by rare conditions.
In a recent discovery, made in collaboration with colleagues at Mount Sinai Hospital and Stanford University in the US, Professor Mumford helped identify faults in the RNU4-2 and RNU2-2 genes that are responsible for a common and often severe neurodevelopmental disorder.
Professor Mumford said: “I am delighted and truly moved by this honour. I am extremely grateful to colleagues and collaborators and above all families affected by genetic disorders, whose support has been instrumental in these achievements.”
David Knowles FREng, Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, a previous Co-Director of the South West Nuclear Hub, and CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, has been awarded a CBE for services to academia and industry.
David Knowles FREng, Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering(Image: Bristol University)
Professor Knowles has built a varied career spanning both academia and industry, with expertise in structural engineering, materials science and innovation. He has been Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Bristol for the last decade.
His work has focused primarily on the application of advanced materials and engineering research to address major industrial and national challenges across transport, energy, petrochemical and infrastructure sectors. Professor Knowles has a long-standing academic track record with over 100 refereed journal papers covering a range of topics including micromechanical modelling and experimentation, data centric engineering, AI and fracture mechanics, structural health monitoring, risk assessment, creep, corrosion fatigue, life/condition assessment procedures and their application in turbomachinery, nuclear, renewable power and petrochemical plant.
He has also played a central role in establishing the National Materials Innovation Leadership Group, chaired by Allan Cook CBE and working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), helping to strengthen collaboration across the UK materials community and provide a more unified voice for the sector in support of national materials science and economic objectives.
Professor Knowles said: “I feel incredibly privileged and proud to have received this honour. It is a recognition not just of my own work, but of everything that the outstanding teams and institutes I’ve been fortunate to be part of have achieved together over many years. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many colleagues and collaborators I’ve worked alongside across both academia and industry.
“Their talent, dedication and shared commitment to innovation have been central to everything we have accomplished. I am especially grateful to the University of Bristol for encouraging me back into the world of research and innovation almost a decade ago. The former and current members of the Solid Mechanics Research Group continue to inspire me and keep me connected to the remarkable innovation taking place in our field.
“Naturally, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, whose encouragement and support have sustained me along the way.”