Paraplegic adventurer 'amazed' to be appointed MBE

A paraplegic adventurer said it was "amazing" to have been appointed MBE in the King's New Year Honours list.

Shaun Gash, from Lancaster, was paralysed in a car crash 33 years ago, breaking his back, wrist, shoulder and puncturing both of his lungs, with doctors believing he only had two days to live.

Mr Gash, who said he had initially struggled to see a future for himself after the accident, met his now wife Dawn at a spinal injury rehabilitation centre and together they have taken on fundraising challenges, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

"It is a great honour to be recognised," the father-of-three said.

Mr Gash's award is for services to charity and to disabled people.

He has dedicated his time to educating children about disability and providing mentorship to those facing similar challenges.

Mr Gash has spearheaded many fundraising efforts including ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, launching a comedy night, and attempting to climb Ben Nevis.

He made history as half of the first disabled duo to scuba dive to a depth of 40m (131ft).

The 53-year-old said his fundraising was "always about pushing the boundaries of my wheelchair to show what can be achieved as well as raising funds".

"When I received the letter, to be honest, I thought, 'What have I done?' as it had Cabinet Office on the envelope.

"I asked my daughter Sharna to open it and read it first," he said.

Commando turned gold medal-winning Paralympian Gregg Stevenson said he was "flabbergasted" as it was "totally unexpected" for him to be appointed MBE for services to rowing.

Stevenson, from Foulridge in east Lancashire, lost both his legs in an explosion while serving as a Royal Engineer Commando in Afghanistan 15 years ago.

With his partner Lauren Rowles, from Worcestershire, he claimed gold in the mixed double sculls at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Former leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Kate Hollern, has been appointed CBE for parliamentary, political and public service.

Hollern was also the Labour MP for Blackburn from 2015 before losing her seat to an independent candidate in the general election.

A volunteer from Thornton Cleveleys has received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to cancer charities.

For more than a decade Andrew Clark has dedicated more than 7,000 hours helping hundreds of people as a cancer charity fundraiser, organising more than 100 events to generate fundraising and raise awareness.

He also volunteers for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, delivering talks about the commission's work, sites and history [and] maintaining graves in his local community.

Scouts volunteer leader Ollie Wood said he was "blown away" to hear he had also been awarded a BEM for services to young people.

For nearly 14 years, he has been part of the scouts in Preston as an adult volunteer, but his journey started when he joined beavers as a six-year-old.

"I love volunteering with the scouts, it is so rewarding and has played a significant role in shaping who I am," the 32-year-old said.

Former Preston manager David Moyes has been appointed OBE for services to football.

He told BBC Sport he was "thrilled" with the "incredible honour".

Moyes said it made him think about "the journey he had been on" and the people who helped him "along the way" and had belief in him.

He said this included his schoolteachers who allowed him to train with Celtic one day a week when he was aged 15 and "great owners who gave me the opportunity to become the [Preston] manager when I was really still a player" and "brilliant people who supported me" during his spell in charge at Everton as well as being "incredibly thankful" to his family for their support.

He said his father, also named David Moyes, was delighted for him.

"My dad has actually got an MBE and I think he is quite pleased now he has got a son who has got an OBE," he added.

Other people from Lancashire recognised in the King's New Year Honours include:

• Purnima Murthy Tanuku appointed CBE for services to early years education
• Karen Alty, headteacher at Holly Grove Special School in Burnley, becomes an OBE for services to education
• An MBE for Kevin Camplin for services to mountain rescue in Lancashire
• Nick Hartshorne-Evans, founder and chief executive of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation awarded a BEM for services to people with chronic heart failure

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