Rail employees recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Three Network Rail employees have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, published on Thursday 2nd June. Christian Irwin, Lydia Fairman and Bill Cooke have been recognised for their services to the railway as well as charitable and voluntary services. 

Four long-serving Great Western Railway employees have been recognised – Jane Jones an MBE, Bex Hartley, Charlotte Murray and Matt Cambourne British Empire Medals (BEM) – and Victoria Snell, from TransPennine Express (TPE) awarded a British Empire Medal for services to mental health and wellbeing.

A full breakdown:

CBE

• Nicholas Francis Markham Chair, London and Continental Railways. For services to the economy and to government.
• Keith Williams, Independent Chair, Williams Rail Review. For services to the railway industry.

OBE

• Dyan Crowther, chief executive officer, HS1 Ltd. For services to rail transport.
• Christian Kyle Irwin, industry programme director, Network Rail. For services to the rail industry.

MBE

• Jane Margaret Jones, Head of Public Affairs, Great Western Railway. For services to the railway industry.
• Keith Jarrett, former police officer now communications officer in British Transport Police’s control room in London. For services to policing.
• Barry Boffy, former BTP Head of Inclusion and Diversity, services to policing.

BEM

• Julia Muriel Brecknell-Prigg, Station Adoption Volunteer, Greater Anglia. For services to Community Rail in Wrabness, Essex.
• Matthew Cambourne, Train Planner, Great Western Railway. For services to the COVID-19 response.
• William Cooke, Head of Workforce Health, Safety and Environment, Network Rail. For services to the railway and to charity.
• Christine Dadd-Bytyci, NATS and Crossrail International Shareholder Policy Lead, Department for Transport. For services to diversity.
• Lydia Joan Joy Fairman, Lead Capability and Development Manager, Network Rail. For services to STEM and to vulnerable people during COVID-19.
• Rebekah Honor Joan Hartley, Lately Manager, Project Phoenix, Great Western Railway. For services to the COVID-19 Response.
• Charlotte Elizabeth Murray, Deputy Head of Security and Resilience, Great Western Railway. For services to the railway industry during COVID-19.
• Victoria Snell, Customer Relations Manager, Transpennine Express. For services to mental health and wellbeing.

Christian Irwin OBE- for services to the rail industry. In his former role as Industry Programme Director for the South West, Christian oversaw the restoration of regular passenger services on the Dartmoor line in Devon for the first time in nearly 50 years as the first project of the government’s Restoring Your Railway initiative.

Using the Project SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) principles aimed at delivering schemes in a faster and more cost-efficient manner, the line was re-opened in just under nine months, two years ahead of schedule and more than £10 million under budget. The reopening of the line transforms connectivity for the region and boosts the local economy. 

Passenger numbers are already over 200 per cent of those predicted in the first year despite opening in the winter months during the COVID pandemic, with considerable further growth predicted. 

Christian Irwin said: “I am incredibly humbled to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.  I have had some wonderful experiences in my time in the rail industry but standing on the platform at Okehampton on the 20th November last year, watching passengers arrive to take their first regular journey on the Dartmoor Line for the first time in nearly 50 years was the proudest moment of my career; an amazing atmosphere, busy trains, unlocked opportunities and a community re-connected.

“I am incredibly proud of all the people and teams who have collaborated to make this project happen, working as a seamless partnership between the rail industry, local authorities and the local community as one Dartmoor Line Team and I accept this honour on behalf of them all.  This is a true testament of what can be achieved and the benefit that rail can provide when local partners work together with a common goal, and I am determined to ensure the learning from the Dartmoor Line can be repeated time and time again.”

Lydia Fairman- British Empire Medal (BEM) for her work in STEM throughout the pandemic and leading a team of volunteers who gained Network Rail’s accreditation with White Ribbon, one of the leading charities aiming to end violence against women. Lydia and her team developed online materials for teachers and children at the start of the pandemic to support children and teachers struggling with the new world of learning from home, and her work has had a huge impact on Network Rail’s ability to engage with young people, reaching 170,000 people with vibrant and innovative STEM education in two years.  

In addition to gaining accreditation with White Ribbon, who can provide the support and knowledge to help employees who may be suffering, Lydia has helped to develop training for staff on how to spot the warning signs of abuse, so managers are better prepared to help their teams reach out, signposting to where further support can be found for managers, HR and the teams involved.

Lydia Fairman said: “It was a huge and wonderful surprise to receive the nomination for a BEM. My Mum got a BEM for the work she does in the community in my hometown of Boston and I suspect she’s the best role model there is, I can’t believe I am even in the same category.

“I work with a fantastic team of people who all pulled together through the pandemic to support parents who were balancing parenting and working as schools were closed. The work I have the opportunity to do in STEM gives me life, we see the impact it can have on young people almost every day and it’s vital we make sure young people know just how many opportunities really sit at their feet.

“Separately, achieving accreditation with White Ribbon was a huge achievement. The murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard show just how much work there is to do to improve the safety of women. Covid-19 placed anyone trapped in an abusive relationship in great danger where they were isolating with their attacker, so many people in Network Rail and across the industry worked together to raise awareness of the issue and I was just one of those people lucky enough to be in a position to make an impact.”

Bill Cooke BEM for services to the railway and charitable services. Bill has been a driving force behind ever-improving standards in safety through his previous role as head of workforce health, safety and environment on the North West & Central region. He has also been honoured for his prolific fundraising, supporting charities including Cancer Research UK, NSPCC, Barnardo’s, Railway Children, Young Lives v Cancer, Action for Children and The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID).  

Bill Cooke said: “It is truly humbling to be honoured in this way, to be recognised for my work in both workforce health and safety and my other true passion; raising money to help sick and vulnerable children across the country.

“My fundraising started back in 2001 on a very wet day at Shirley Golf Club where industry colleagues got together in an attempt to raise just a few pounds for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I was absolutely staggered at the success- a massive £18k was raised that day and the Regional Director suggested that this really should be an annual event. This year will see the 21st anniversary of this now fabulous celebrity event.

“Over the years I have also managed to coax others to join me in non-golfing events such as trekking through the Grand Canyon, the 3 Peaks challenge and a 500-mile treadmill walk to name a few, all of which has raised well over £700k in 20 years.

“As I say to everyone, I’m only the conductor, our rail industry colleagues coming together to actually donate money are the orchestra!”

Victoria Snell BEM – for services to Mental Health and Wellbeing. Victoria, 30 relocated for work several years ago, and is a champion for mental health awareness not only at TransPennine Express but across the rail industry, disability forums and her social media networks.

Four and a half years ago, following five different surgeries, Victoria chose to have her leg amputated, which had a significant impact on her own mental health. She has spoken openly about her disability and her experience living with continued Phantom Pain from her amputated leg, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety.

Victoria said: “Receiving a British Empire Medal from the Queen during the year of her Platinum Jubilee is just so special.

“I’m passionate about normalising mental health and encouraging others to do the same.

“My own mental health challenges are as much as part of me as the fact that I use a prosthetic leg and I want to continue to do all I can to raise awareness in this area.”

Photo credit: Network Rail/ TransPennine Express

Keith Jarrett MBE – a former London-based BTP officer who now works as a Communications Officer at BTP’s Force Control Room in London, has been awarded an MBE for services to policing. He was recognised for his work towards increasing diversity and confidence in policing for BTP’s employees and building trust with local communities and ethnic minority groups. He was also commended for his bravery when responding to numerous major incidents during his 28-year career in policing.

A number of Keith’s achievements recognised include:

• Forming the Black Police Association and driving BTP’s recruitment for more officers and staff from ethnic minority backgrounds
• Setting up BTP’s Youth Independent Advisory group to engage young people from a variety of backgrounds in policing and ensure that their voices are heard
• Being the first BTP supervisor on scene at the Southall train crash in September 1997, coming to the aid of a significant number of injured passengers
• Being one of the first officers on the scene and assisting walking wounded members of the public to shelter at BTP’s Tavistock HQ after a bus exploded nearby during the 7/7 London bombings

Keith retired as a police officer in July 2014 and shortly after returned to the force as a communications officer in the London Control Room.

On being awarded an MBE, Keith said: “I feel extremely proud and honoured to be receiving this award and for my work to be recognised this way.

“I didn’t think anyone was noticing what I was doing, I was simply doing it because it was the right thing to do and I want my children and grandchildren to grow up in a society where people from minority ethnic backgrounds are listened to and better represented within the police.

“The UK is my home, and I’m passionate about making sure that myself and everyone else in my home feels included, safe, and looked after. These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without my colleagues who supported and encouraged me to set up these initiatives, and who are ensuring that they long continue.

“To be awarded for something I simply love to do is a true career highlight and the greatest honour.”

Barry Boffy MBE – former BTP Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Barry has been awarded an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in policing. Barry has been recognised for his outstanding commitment and actions in improving policing legitimacy, as well as striving for better representation and understanding of employees from diverse backgrounds and varied communities within the force.

 A few of Barry’s achievements recognised include:

• Being an internationally recognised policing diversity advocate and expert
• Drawing upon his expertise to shape BTP’s nationwide operational strategy to tackling hate crime on the rail network
• Championing the creation of twelve network groups for BTP employees, connecting officers and staff from underrepresented groups and giving them an influential voice
• Advocating change and educating officers and staff on the treatment and support of transgender and non-binary members of the public, such as transforming police search guidance

Barry left the force in March 2022 after fifteen years and now continues to work as an inclusion and diversity expert, supporting a number of charities across Europe as well as being consulted on equality, diversity and inclusion and community cohesion matters.

On being awarded an MBE, Barry said: “What a wonderful and completely unexpected honour! I’m so humbled that BTP would think so highly of the work that I’ve done over the last 15 years, or that it felt that I was worthy of such recognition.

“When I initially joined BTP on a temporary 3-month contract in 2007, I could never have had any idea what an incredible opportunity it would be or how rewarding a career in policing I would eventually go on to have. I will always be grateful to everyone at BTP who supported and championed me and my work over the years, and I am so proud to have served alongside such dedicated and passionate colleagues during some truly difficult and challenging times.

“It’s because of them, with the unwavering support of my family and partner David, that I’ve felt welcomed and a valued colleague within the policing family over so many years. This honour is something I could never have expected, so I am shocked but incredibly honoured and grateful to be awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.”

Jane Jones MBE – Jane, head of public affairs for Great Western Railway, gets an MBE for services to the railway industry.

She said “It is always nice to get a thank you, and this was such a wonderful surprise. I am grateful to those who nominated me and really pleased to see the rail industry recognised for the role we play in connecting people and communities.”

Bex Hartley BEM – Lately manager, project phoenix, Great Western Railway received a BEM for services to the railway during COVID-19. Her response played a vital role in GWR’s operational response to COVID-19,  co-ordinating different departments across the business. Through her management, GWR worked with communities to identify key services and ensure they were protected.

Bex, of Swindon, said: “I feel totally honoured and privileged to receive this award, knowing my contributions to co-ordinating the GWR response to Covid and delivering for our key workers has helped towards developing a national response strategy.”

Charlotte Murray BEM – the Deputy Head of Security and Resilience, Great Western Railway got a BEM for services to the railway industry during COVID-19. She kept track of the latest Covid-19 updates, amending GWR’s plans and procedures to ensure the business was ready to react to the latest developments.

With ever-changing advice and rules being sent out from Government, Charlotte ensured GWR was up-to-date with the latest guidance to ensure the safety of colleagues and customers.

Charlotte, from Plymouth, said: “I was astounded when I received the nomination letter. It took a while for it to sink in and really understand what it meant. You never think something like this would ever happen to you.

“I am incredibly humbled to be awarded the BEM. It is incredibly difficult to explain how amazing it is to be recognised in this way.”

Matt Cambourne BEM – he received a BEM for his work during COVID-19. GWR said he led from the front, steering the GWR through the most intensive period of timetable change in the history of the network.

At the start of lockdown, Matt and his team produced a new timetable, halving the number of services but protecting key worker journeys. This was then changed every three to four weeks – a task which would usually take a year of planning and testing.

Matt, from Bristol, said: “I was delighted to be awarded this honour, it was a real surprise and it took quite a while to sink in! I see this as a real testament to all the hard work put in by my wider team throughout the pandemic to deliver the best possible service for our customers.”