South Cumbrians recognised in King's Birthday Honours

A number of people from South Cumbria have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for 2025.

They include Richard Warren, of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT) who receives the OBE for services to Mountain Rescue in Cumbria and the Lake District.

Richard is one of the longest standing operational team members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team with 40 years voluntary service in August of this year.

Richard has devoted most of his spare time to mountain rescue, in addition to his activities at a regional level and beyond. As well as that he was Secretary and then Chair of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association & Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA) from 1998 to 2024. 

John Bamforth, WMRT Chair said: “Richard is a trusted and conscientious member of our team, who will go out on rescues at any time of day or night.

‘’His contribution to the running of our team and the regional association in his nearly 40 years to date has been very significant and he has left a legacy of achievements as well as demonstrating how to behave as a mountain rescue volunteer in an exemplary and professional manner. On behalf of the team, please accept our heartfelt congratulations on this deserving achievement.” 

Richard added: “It is an immense honour to be receiving this award which I would like to dedicate to my family and friends who have supported me throughout the last 40 years.

‘’It is a privilege to play a small part in my local Wasdale mountain rescue team, as well as the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, and the wider Mountain Rescue community. I value the fact that we remain a voluntary organisation, and I am extremely proud of the service we provide.”

Other South Cumbrian recipients include:

Knighthood:

Professor Vernon Charles Gibson CB FRS. Visiting Professor, Department of Materials, Imperial College London. For services to Science and to Defence. (Ambleside)

MBE:

James Matthew Batchelor. Chief Executive Officer, Alertacall. For services to Technology for Older People. (Kendal)

John Rodger Cairns. Founder, Western Dales Bus. For services to Public Transport. (Sedbergh)

Claire Render. Chief Executive Officer, The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust, Cumbria. For services to Education. (Wylam, Northumberland)

Jeremy Richard Wilson. Founder and Chief Executive, The Lakeland Climbing Centres and Founder, The Lakeland Climbing Foundation. For services to Indoor Climbing. (Windermere)

Mark Todd. Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Youth Trust South and Chair, Association of Sail Training Organisations. For services to Sailing and to Young People. (Kendal)

BEM

Marjorie Anne Nicholson. Artist and Director, Art Gene. For services to the Arts and to the community in Barrow in Furness. (Barrow

Nigel Robert Lister. For services to the Nuclear Industry and to Mountain Rescue. (Broughton in Furness)