Honours list: Community figures in Merton recognised by the Queen

A teacher, community support officer, engineer and medical volunteer have been honoured in the list.

Transport for London (TfL) Chief Engineer Brendan Sleight, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his work supporting army veterans in the transport industry.

Brendan Sleight

Mr Sleight, from Morden, has worked for TfL for 16 years and currently volunteers as chair of TfL’s ex-forces and reservist staff network group, supporting employees who have previously been in the armed forces or are reservists.

Mr Sleight said he was "proud" to be honoured, and said: "I hope that this inspires more people to pursue a career in the transport industry, whether they are looking for an apprenticeship or a new role after leaving the forces.

Mr Sleight was inspired to help those who had been in the armed forces after his department offered a placement to somebody who had left the forces due to injury, and also works with TfL to try and inspire more women to begin careers in engineering.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, sent his congratulations to Mr Sleight, saying: “I am delighted Brendan’s hard work has been recognised with this well-deserved honour.

"His vital contributions have made a huge difference to both Londoners working at TfL and those travelling across our transport network.”

Joanna Burgess, founder and principal of Blossom House School in Motspur Park, has been made an OBE for her services to children with special educational needs.

After many years as a speech and language therapist, Ms Burgess founded the school in 1989 as a small language-centred nursery in her own home. It operated on the philosophy that children “need language to learn and to learn language" through exposure to a range of experiences that enable them to master other skills.

Blossom House School

Blossom House expanded in 1993 to provide full time education for children who continued to require a highly supportive, language based curriculum.

The school continued to grow, offering secondary education in 2005. It has occupied its current Motspur Park site since 2015 and has 213 pupils from the ages of 3 to 19.

Jennifer Cooke, 76, from Wimbledon, has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to supporting people with neuro-disabilities.

Ms Cooke has been a member of The Royal Hospital for Neurodisability (RHN) since 1959 and its chair since 1975. Heading a board of eight volunteers, Ms Cooke has helped to raise around £1m in donations for the RHN, the oldest independent hospital and medical charity in the UK.

Ms Cooke said: “It was a nice surprise. I’m just a volunteer.

“Most people join a charity because they have a personal connection to a cause, a relative with cancer, for example. But I went in the opposite direction and chose something that was totally outside my orbit.

“I’ll keep going until I drop. I’ve got no intention of giving up.”

For 40 years Ms Cooke also organised a weekly tea in her home for isolated elderly people, but said she stopped 18 months ago because she “was getting older than half the people there".

The chief executive of the RHN, Paul Allen, said: "We are so pleased to hear that one of our long standing volunteers and former board member, Jennifer Cooke has been awarded an MBE for services to supporting people with neuro-disability.  

"As the oldest independent charity hospital for people with brain injury in the UK, we rely on donations to provide vital rehabilitation and long term care for our patients. Many congratulations to Jennifer!" 

Police Community Support Officer John Joseph has received a BEM for going over and above his role.

Young people across Merton have benefitted from the work of PCSO's. Picture: Merton police

PCSO Joseph took on the role of a safer schools officer at a pupil referral unit, normally carried out by police officers, to use his skills as a football coach to work with young offenders and those with behavioural and development issues.

PCSO Joseph runs football initiatives and workshops involving local schools. Three young people have subsequently been signed up by Crystal Palace, Croydon and Redhill Football Clubs.

A statement from Merton Police said: “John has always been the PCSO that sets the standard for what we should all be. This is a well-deserved honour for him as he does a great deal for the local community. He's an asset to the borough and someone all PCSO's should aspire to emulate."