Wheelchair tennis star appointed MBE

A Paralympian who has won 17 Grand Slam wheelchair tennis titles has been honoured in the King's Birthday Honours.

Andy Lapthorne, from Maidenhead, told BBC Radio Berkshire it was "a massive shock" to be appointed an MBE for services to tennis.

Lapthorne, who has won three silver medals and a bronze at the Paralympics, said he hoped his achievement would show others that "anything's possible".

"Tennis is known as a sport that is for more of the upper classes... and I'm someone from a working class background," he said.

"I'm hoping that this will inspire people from similar backgrounds to me to pick up tennis," the 34-year-old said.

In 2024 he played in front of a full crowd at the Paralympics in Paris, something he said showed "how far the sport has come".

"I'm travelling the world, playing tournaments, being able to earn a living from a disability sport," he said.

"I'm hoping that I've left the sport in a better place than when I found it when I do finally [retire]."

Also honoured was Prof Andrew Charlton-Perez, a meteorology professor at the University of Reading, who has been appointed an OBE for his services to climate science and education.

The professor said he felt the honour was recognising all of his colleagues' work as well as his own.

"To be recognised in this amazing place with so many different colleagues who do wonderful things... it feels unreal," he said.

"All of the work that we've done on climate education in particular has been done with huge teams of people... it really feels like it's recognising all of those contributions, all of those positive things that we're doing together."

Another on the list was Peter Francis, chief of staff at the Maidenhead-based Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which maintains the graves of those who died in both World Wars.

Mr Francis, who was appointed OBE for his services to global commemoration, said getting the "official-looking letter" was "a massive surprise".

"My initial reaction was 'is it a tax return?' or something like that," he said.

"It feels very, very strange but very, very humbling and I'm deeply honoured."

He said it was a reflection on the work the Commission did as a whole.

"It's very difficult to put a price on the commemoration of those who served," he said.

"We owe them a debt of thanks that we can never truly repay and the work that I do, and my colleagues do... just goes some small way to saying thank you."

Also recognised was Estelle Bailey, the chief executive of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), who was appointed MBE for her services to nature's recovery.

Ms Bailey started at the trust as a volunteer 27 years ago.

"It's been the most incredible journey, having loved nature as a child and been so connected to it, but also in that time watching its decline and worrying about the future and wondering what I could do to help," she said.

"It's been a journey of love and a journey of passion - and that will never leave me."

She said receiving the letter saying she was being awarded an MBE "took my breath away".

"I'm so, so delighted," she said.

"Charitable life is really hard... it's not well paid and you have to fight really hard to get money to do work.

"It was just that moment of recognition for me that was just really, super special."

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