Latest News | 14 October 2020
Awards for Derbyshire's finest
Others recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List include an engineer from Bondholder Rolls-Royce, a medical professional at Bondholder the University Hospital of Derby and Burton Trust and the MD at an iconic Derbyshire company.
Dr Rory Clarkson, an aerospace engineer at Rolls-Royce, was awarded an MBE for his services to international trade and aerospace engineering.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss congratulated all UK exporters and business leaders recognised with Honours for their outstanding service to international trade, investment and exports, saying: “A warm congratulations to the exporters being acknowledged for their work in championing trade across the globe in this year’s Honours List. It is a testament to the innovation and creativity of UK businesses and I look forward to continuing to celebrate those who export overseas, showcasing UK goods the world over.”
Also becoming an MBE is Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley Ltd based at Lea Mills near Matlock, in recognition of services to the textile industry and the Covid-19 response.
Mr Maclean is the eighth generation managing director of the internationally renowned knitwear company – a 236 year-old family business, which was awarded the Royal Warrant of Appointment in 2013 for the Queen.
A citation to him says that he has “shown great innovation during the Covid-19 crisis redeploying a proportion of his work force to make PPE for the NHS, supplying the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, local GP surgeries and care homes all free of charge”.
Mr Maclean opened a special area at his Lea Mills factory earlier in the year, dedicated to creating medical grade fabric scrub garments, sourcing hospital-approved fabrics from a British supplier and set a team of volunteer lock-stitchers, seamers and over-lockers to produce the first batch of just over 1,000 pairs of scrubs.
Also recognised in the Birthday Honours List with an MBE was Catherine Winfield, executive chief nurse for Bondholder the University Hospital of Derby and Burton Trust, for services to nursing.
