Trio feature in New Year's Honours list

Dr Ian Webber Evett, a consultant forensic scientist, has been recognised with a CBE for his service to forensic science.

The 73-year-old from Bramley told The Gazette: "I was absolutely delighted. It was a very welcome surprise."

Dr Evett, who is originally from Neath, in South Wales, joined the Home Office Forensic Science Service in 1966 and worked at several forensic science laboratories during his career.

He and his family moved to Bramley when he was posted to Home Office laboratories at the AWE site in Aldermaston.

He specialised in the application of statistics and probability theory to forensic science problems and has worked with many different types of scientific evidence including fingerprints, glass, fibres, firearms and DNA profiling.

The father-of-two and grandfather-of-five spent much of his career in research and he has published more than 120 papers and co-authored a book on DNA statistics.

After the Government closed the Forensic Science Service down, Dr Evett joined with a group of senior scientists who provide consultancy, casework and educational services in forensic science internationally.

Upon hearing the news he had been honoured by The Queen, Dr Evett paid tribute to his wife, Gill, who taught history at various Basingstoke schools, for supporting his career.

The couple will now have a double celebration this year, as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

Dr Evett, who still works part-time, is a keen amateur musician and has belonged to various choirs around Basingstoke, including Basingstoke Male Voice Choir and Basingstoke Choral Society.

He and his daughter Suzanne currently sing with a small local acapella group called Generations.

Also recognised in the New Year's Honours list was LeRoy Christopher Kenneth Angel, for his services as a rugby volunteer.

Mr Angel was the president of The Rugby Union Foundation in 2005/06.

Born in Winchester, he started playing rugby at Kings' School at the age of 11, before joining Winchester RFC when he left school.

The 70-year-old, of Rochford Road, Basingstoke played in Winchester's first XV for some 600 appearances until retiring with a knee injury aged 33 and was club captain from 1973 to 1975.

He also played rugby for Hampshire.

Reacting to the news of his British Empire Medal, Mr Angel said: "It was a real surprise as I had just come out of hospital and had been staying with a friend. So when I returned home to see a letter with cabinet office on my door step, I thought to myself I don’t know anyone in the cabinet office, then I realised It was a letter stating I had been awarded a British Empire Medal.

“So it was a very nice surprise to come back to."

He added: "There are hundreds of rugby volunteers just like me, so I feel privileged that I have been singled out for this award.

“After the highest level of rugby a lot of the administration is done my volunteers who just do it for the love of the game, I have been involved with it for 37 years and will continue until I am no longer able too.

“So many of my friends and club members all across Hampshire have been so generous sending cards, texts and e-mails I just don’t have the time to reply to them all."

Christopher Howard, from Overton, received an MBE for services to special educational needs.

The 69-year-old retired civil servant has been a governor at Saxon Wood School, in Rooksdown, since 1977, and was founding chairman of the Saxon Wood Association, a charity which registered in 1974.

Mr Howard, whose late daughter Nancy attended Saxon Wood Nursery, said: "After working in the voluntary sector for 41 years you just don’t expect to get an honour like this so it was a complete surprise.

“The award is just as much for me as it is for the staff and the headteachers I have worked with at Saxon Wood for everything they have done to make this such a unique school."

The father-of-three and grandfather-of-four added: “As nice as it is to be able to put the letters after my name, it is great recognition for all the hard work carried out at the school.

“It is very humbling to know that so many people thought it was worthwhile putting my name forward to receive the MBE and I am looking forward to going to the palace.

“I think my wife is just as excited as me, as it will be a wonderful occasion.

“The people who we have told about the honour have been so happy for me and I’ve had some very kind words said about it and the work I have done in the voluntary sector.”