Derbyshire people recognised in Birthday Honours

The King has honoured a group of people from Derbyshire for their work improving people's lives.

Derby City Council's strategic director of people services Andy Smith has been bestowed the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

And a further three people with links to Derby and the wider county have been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

They ed the likes of newly-knighted David Beckham, Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey on the King's Birthday Honours List, revealed on Friday.

Prof Alan Perkins, an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, has been awarded an MBE for services to patient care and clinical science.

Also newly-honoured with an MBE is Dominic Harrison, from Melbourne, who has been a trustee of gambling addiction charity GamCare for 12 years, and chair of its audit, risk and development committee for three years.

The 62-year-old has been recognised for services to the prevention of gambling.

The Cabinet Office said Mr Harrison had brought "comion and common sense to the protection of people who are affected by gambling harms" with "unwavering dedication".

GamCare s more than 1,000 callers a week through its National Gambling Helpline, and hundreds more through its one-to one and group-based treatment services and prevention programmes.

Mr Harrison said: "This is a remarkable group of people, very committed to a very, very important cause, and this is 100% for the team.

"I feel rather unworthy if I'm honest. But the reaction has been exceptionally positive and I'm humbled."

Louise Potter, who has been awarded an MBE for services to the economic development of Buxton, said she was "thrilled" to be recognised.

She has been High Sheriff of Derbyshire and involved with Buxton Opera House, the Buxton International Festival, Vision Buxton, Visit Peak District and Derbyshire and had "done a lot of work for the development of Buxton and beyond".

She said: "I was very moved that my contribution to Buxton has been recognised.

"It's a very vibrant town and one of the other reasons that Buxton is so successful is the wonderful volunteers who all our organisations in the town, and everybody's very keen to see Buxton be successful."

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