Meet some of the Cheshire residents recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours List 2021

And here are the Cheshire residents who have been honoured in the 2021 list.

Martin Blondel MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), Winsford

Martin Blondel

The 51-year-old is honoured for services to the community in St Helens, Merseyside, particularly during Covid-19.

Martin set up the Steve Prescott Foundation in 2007 after reaching out to support the former St Helens Rugby Club player for which it is named, who had been diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer.

He was the foundation's general manager from 2007 and continued the charity’s work following Steve Prescott’s death in 2013, in collaboration with his widow.

The charity raises funds to support the two causes of cancer care, through the Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

When coronavirus took hold in the UK and people began to panic buy, he contacted the owner of the Eccleston Arms pub and collaborated with him on turning the venue into an essential store for NHS staff and the elderly, and the base of operations of a new volunteer support service.

Through his experience in the charitable field, his wide circle of contacts in Rugby League and with the support of many in St Helens, he put together a support group in a very short space of time, focusing on providing PPE and guaranteed food supplies to NHS staff, and delivering food and household goods to the vulnerable and shielding.

He recruited and managed the service’s volunteers on a daily basis, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week throughout the first national lockdown from March until June.

Amateur Rugby League Club players from Blackbrook St Helens, as well as celebrities including Johnny Vegas and Paul Sculthorpe, took on roles assisting the new support group in packing, sending out and delivering food and supplies to people isolating at home.

He directed these operations remotely from his home some 30 miles away, due to his own vulnerable status.

The service also supported the foodbanks in St Helens in obtaining donations of food from supermarkets and individuals, and he worked with other local and national charities including Age UK, Teardrops and the Hope Centre in St Helens to supply them with surplus donations for distribution.

Upon hearing about this honour, Martin said: "I felt emotional because I lost my mum earlier in the year to Covid.

"I know she would be made up, she was the most beautiful, caring person you could meet.

"It's been emotional knowing how proud she would be."

Jemma Haines MBE, Wilmslow

Jemma Haines

Jemma, 40, is a consultant speech and language therapist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), and she is honoured for services to speech and language therapy, particularly during Covid-19.

She was the UK's first consultant respiratory speech and language therapist and has led the development of clinical knowledge, services and research for patients with respiratory and upper airway dysfunction, chronic cough and asthma.

As a member of the British Thoracic Society advisory group, she has influenced the development of the work of SLTs as part of the multidisciplinary team.

She led the development of professional specific guidance and research in respiratory conditions and shared her expertise to support SLTs in developing their clinical practice across the UK.

Jemma is also the allied health professional upper airways lead for the North West Severe Asthma Network and North West Cough Network.

She previously worked for 11 years at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, developing a nationally renowned airways service, and for the past four years at MFT to expand these services.

Jemma has been at the forefront as a clinical expert working with the RCSLT Covid-19 advisory group developing guidelines for SLTs and led the pathway guidance for the care of patients with voice and upper airway disorders.

Given the impact of COVID-19 on the respiratory functions of patients and the increased level of demand, she adapted her clinical role to use her expertise to support the respiratory MDT, often working out of hours.

Jemma has also worked closely with multidisciplinary team colleagues nationally to develop the position statement on the diagnosis of Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction during Covid-19.

This has been essential to adapting ways of working to inform diagnosis and treatment in the absence of endoscopy which was halted due to aerosol generating concerns.

Speaking about receiving this honour, Jemma said it still felt 'surreal'.

Martin Frederic Hudson BEM (British Empire Medal), Goostrey

The 79-year-old is founder of Holmes Chapel Music Society and has been honoured for services to music.

Martin and his wife established the society which is recognised as the leading classical music society in Cheshire and one of the most pre-eminent in the UK.

This concert society has been in existence for 50 years this October and has organised at least eight concerts every year.

It has been supported by many enthusiasts, including Sir Bernard Lovell, James Loughran during his time as conductor of the Halle Orchestra, and in the past fifteen years, Sir Mark Elder (the present conductor).

Under Martin's leadership, the society has developed a reputation for its chamber music offering, which attracts audiences from across the north west region to enjoy performances by artists of international note, as well as to showcase emerging artists.

His contribution running the organisation for forty years is 'testament to his skills dealing with artists and agents, publicising events, welcoming the public, managing a team of volunteers and researching artists repertoire'.

Martin retired as the society chairman in 2012 after serving for nearly forty years – he and his wife were on the first committee in 1972 and continue to serve, she as programme planning secretary (for the past 40 years) and he as honorary secretary since he gave up chairmanship.

Martin said: "Although I have got the award, there are a lot of people involved in the society.

"The award is for the society, rather than just myself."

Lynda Leadbetter BEM, Winsford

Lynda Leadbetter

Lynda, 51, is honoured for services to the community in Stockport, Greater Manchester, during Covid-19.

She runs a weight loss support group called Beeweighed in Manchester, which currently has more than 200 members.

Earlier, she used to have a small number of groups in her business which started pre-covid, and after lockdown she did not let the business discontinue.

She offered all her members’ free sessions through Zoom meetings and her planned media has supported many who were going through depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other dilemmas.

Additionally, Lynda ran a virtual book club prioritising her members’ field of interest.

Her passion inspired other people, and one of her employees did not charge her anything for the marketing of the business during lockdown.

Her meeting now runs in four destinations at Manchester, Denton, Haughton and Longsight.

Nathan Clarke BEM, Winsford

The 30-year-old is the founder of South Cheshire Amateur Boxing Club and has been honoured for service to sport and the community.

He formed the club aged 21 with no investment or partners and only 'a rusty old ring and second-hand pads and gloves'.

Nathan uses boxing as a diversionary activity to channel young people’s energy positively and to provide a safe space, as well as developing successful boxers.

He is a mentor to other coaches, assisting them to identify issues regarding mental health and wellbeing, and has overseen a 500 per cent growth in membership since he started.

The club’s stakeholders include The Holroyd Foundation, Cheshire Crime Beat, Crewe Town Council, Cheshire Grants Foundation and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

In 2014, Nathan started working with Crewe Probation Service, proactively seeking offenders to assist with rehabilitation – some of whom remained at the club (one is now a coach and role model).

His work has improved the lives of residents and police have even reported a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the area due to the club's presence.

Nathan is working with Crewe Youth Centre to secure a safe environment for use by future generations.

The ‘Schools Boxing project’ sees him take sessions into schools in partnership with Sport Scape and Crewe Police.