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'I hope my OBE will inspire other mums'

Getty Images A woman with long brown hair wearing blue jeans and a white top, standing outside a pair of smart-looking black doors holding up a large Union Jack and smiling.Getty Images
Helen Glover said she was "really chuffed" with being appointed OBE

An Olympic rower who was made OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours List said she wanted her career to inspire other mums.

Helen Glover, who won golds in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, and claimed silver in Paris 2024, said she hoped her OBE showed others they did not need to be "pigeon-holed by being a parent".

The rower, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, said she was "really chuffed" with the honour.

Other people from the county recognised in the list include a couple from Purley who have been honoured for their services to disadvantaged children overseas, and the chief executive of a sports charity.

Ms Glover said she had been thinking about her legacy in recent years, in particular the message she wanted to get out to women.

"London and Rio for me was this selfish ambition project, but since then, through Tokyo and Paris, I feel like I've gained so much more from what I've given back," she said.

"I really want to champion mums and never being pigeon-holed by being a parent -so for me that's been the biggest thing I want to give back through sport."

StreetGames Mark Lawrie, a man with grey hair and wearing a black polo shirt, smiling at the camera with trees behind him.StreetGames
StreetGames CEO Mark Lawrie said he "incredibly humbled" to be appointed OBE

Also honoured was the chief executive of StreetGames, a charity that works with community organisations in deprived parts of the UK to support people from low-income backgrounds into sport.

Mark Lawrie, who lives in Thatcham, Berkshire, said he was "incredibly humbled", adding his OBE would help raise the charity's profile and increase its impact.

"It reflects for me all the amazing people I've worked with throughout my career because you don't get anywhere on your own," he said.

"I've been fortunate to work for and with some incredible people with huge levels of passion and commitment.

"But to receive something like this is truly extraordinary."

Other honours recipients in Berkshire include:

  • Robert Harris - the former journalist and An Officer And A Spy author was appointed CBE for his services to literature
  • Julian Emms - the chief executive of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was made OBE for his services to the NHS
  • John Brian McGrath - the life president of palliative care charity Cicely Saunders International was made OBE for his services to charity and education
  • Alan Smith and Dr Helen Smith - the pair were made MBE for their work with disadvantaged children in Uganda through the charity Kisiizi Partners

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