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Brunel racks up New Year Honours

Iran's 'alarming' execution rate

A Brunel Deputy Vice-Chancellor,  Director of Occupational Therapy, four former students and honorary degree holder are named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2017.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew George receives an MBE for service to NHS research participants, while past Occupational Therapy Director, Christine Craik has an OBE for forging the profession’s future in mental health care.

Former students, gold-winning Olympic hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive of Young Women's Trust, become OBEs. Plus gold medal winning Paralympic rower James Fox got an MBE and Clare Eluka, Premae Skincare founder, took a BEM for services to dermatology.

The award-winning Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance, who got a Brunel Honorary Doctor of Letters in 2009, is newly knighted.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof George said he was proud to be part of a system that has made a difference to patients’ lives: “I am pleased and delighted, not least for the recognition it brings to the many volunteers that support the research ethics system across the country."

Vice-Chancellor and President of Brunel University London, Professor Julia Buckingham, said: “This is testament to Andrew’s dedication to ensuring research is ethically sound, which is incredibly important. I’m delighted Andrew has the recognition he so clearly deserves.”

Christine Craik2

 

Christine Craik ran Brunel’s Occupational therapy department from 1995 until 2009. She inspired many occupational therapists to gain post graduate qualifications.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed, but it’s a lovely feeling,” she said. “I’m still in touch with my colleagues from OT at Brunel. Someone there must have said something very nice about me.”

“I am absolutely delighted for Christine,” said Professor Priscilla Harries, Head of Department for Clinical Sciences at Brunel University London. “Christine encouraged many occupational therapists to undertake further study at Masters and Doctoral levels. As a result, Brunel is now a leading university for occupational therapy worldwide.” 

Brunel University London fellow Kate Richardson-Walsh and her 15 Olympic teammates were named in the Honours for their magnificence in the games. The team took MBEs, which makes captain, Kate, an OBE after she won an MBE in 2014 for her services to hockey. “I am hugely honoured to receive an OBE, said Kate, from Maidenhead, Berkshire. “For the team and the sport to be recognised in this way is huge.

“Brunel taught me valuable life lessons. My first time away from home was exciting. As an athlete, I couldn’t fully partake in student life. When some students were going on nights out, I had club training. Weekends were spent travelling to league and cup matches. I had to juggle all aspects of being a professional athlete with being a full time student. This was tricky and I am very grateful to the support of the fabulous staff at Brunel."

Dr Carole Easton got a first class honours degree in psychology and a doctorate in human sciences in 1987. She became a child and adolescent psychotherapist and trained counsellors at ChildLine.