A number of people living and working in Hammersmith and Fulham have been included in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Cancer care organisation Maggie's, whose much loved West London centre is by Charing Cross Hospital, has announced: "Our Chief Executive Laura Lee has been named Dame, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

" Laura, who has been at Maggie's for 23 years as CEO, has been recognised for her work ensuring people living with cancer have the emotional support they need alongside their medical care."

Laura, who lives in Shepherd's Bush said: " I am overwhelmed and humbled to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in this way, but I feel the honour is less in recognition of myself and more an acknowledgement of what Maggie's does.

"The difference our centres make to the lives of people with cancer is something I see every time I sit round one of our kitchen tables. Being CEO of such an incredible organisation is a privilege that I never take for granted.

"The people I meet every day are the ones who I constantly learn from and we will continue to work to build centres for everyone who needs them."

Maggie's West London

Maggie’s was the vision of Maggie Keswick Jencks, who had an idea for a different type of cancer care as she lived with advanced cancer for two years. She died in 1995, but Laura, Maggie’s nurse and friend, worked with Maggie’s family to ensure her vision became a reality.

Laura says: " When the first Maggie’s centre opened more than two decades ago the general opinion was that if you got good medical care that was enough, but we know that cancer brings such difficult and complex emotions of uncertainty, loneliness and anxiety that people need support with them.

" Their families do as well and that is what Maggie’s does – day after day. We support people to live well with cancer.

" We have come a long way but I want to see 60 centres across the UK one day.

" I know we will get there and I hope this award means that more people hear about us and come to our centres to get the support they need."

OBE

Fulham resident Anne Rochelle KIEM Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools and Executive Director, Small Business Charter. Honoured for services to Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The Chartered Association of Business Schools said: " Anne Kiem has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. It recognises her leadership of the Small Business Charter and advancing the fantastic support business schools provide to small businesses."

Anne, who lives in Fulham, said "I am both delighted and honoured to have been awarded this Honour. It is a testament to the great work business schools are doing in supporting small businesses and start-ups, which are the engine house of the UK economy. Working with our great business schools is a joy and inspiration."

BEM - British Empire Medal

Dr Naeem Ahmed, Consultant Radiologist, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust andFounder, Selfless. For services to volunteering and Healthcare.

Na’eem completed Academic Foundation Training at King’s College Hospital and thereafter worked as a Clinical Fellow to the NHS National Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh. Naeem is currently a Radiology Specialty Registrar in London. Na’eem is a former Editorial Board member of Clinical Medicine. Naeem has served as an advisor to the Mayor of London’s Team London and as a Trustee at Macmillan Cancer Support.

Selfless says on its website: " Dr Na’eem Ahmed, Founder of Selfless, which aims to address current local and global healthcare challengges, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his outstanding contribution to volunteering and Healthcare in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019.

" Dr Ahmed has worked for more than a decade in volunteering related projects.

" Dr Ahmed began his interest in volunteering by organising a local football club, then progressed to supporting young people to find meaningful volunteering opportunities; from planting trees to providing arts and craft sessions at nursing homes.

" He has worked on projects engaging students in public health promotion opportunities, establishing a diverse network of student health ambassadors to carry out health education projects to reach underserved communities in London. Working with like-minded colleagues, Na’eem spearheaded the award-winning international healthcare-volunteering programme, Elective Aid."

Na’eem has served in advisory roles to the Mayor of London’s Team London, at the Department for International Development (DFID) and as a Trustee at Macmillan Cancer Support. He was also named as a ‘Point of Light’ by former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Dr Ahmed said: "This award came as a great surprise and I am honoured to receive it on behalf of all the inspiring people that have helped make the projects that I have been involved with a success. Volunteers are an essential thread within society, one that is too often under-appreciated until there is a time of need.

"I feel privileged to have been able to witness first-hand the life-changing impact volunteering can have on a local, national and international level."

BEM - British Empire Medal

Adriaan Petrus Charles VAN ZYL, Warden, St Andrews Church. For services to the community in London.

Adriaan, described as 'our wonderful warden' by the church in Greyhound Road, is also involved St Andrews' Homeless/Drop in project.

You can find out more about the project and how you can help here.

June 14, 2019