The boss of Morebus has been made a MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to the bus industry.
Andrew Wickham, Managing Director of Go South Coast, said he was “delighted and humbled” at the recognition.
Other local recipients of honours include:
Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Professor Alison Margaret Fuller. Professor, Vocational Education and Work, University College London. For services to Higher Education. (Bournemouth).
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Laurence Anthony Pears. Capability Adviser, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence. (Bournemouth).
Heather Mary Freeman. Lately Head of Service, Aspire Regional Adoption Agency, Dorset. For services to Vulnerable Children and Families. (Christchurch).
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Eleanor Aldridge. For services to Sailing. (Poole).
Keith Brown. An expert in social work and prevention of financial scamming in vulnerable adults, he worked at Bournemouth University from 1994 until his retirement in 2020 and retains an emeritus position at the university. For services to Adult Safeguarding.
Zoe Amanda Packman. Deputy Director, Nursing Service Delivery, Transformation and Resilience, NHS England. For services to Nursing. (Poole).
Carolyn Wheatley. Founder and Chair, Patients on Intravenous and Naso-gastric Nutrition Treatment (PINNT). For services to Patients with Intestinal Failure. (Christchurch).
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Brian Thomas Speight. President, Espada Fencing Club. For services to Fencing. (Bournemouth).
Alison Jayne Kay. Musician, Teacher and Trustee, Poole Society for Young Musicians. For services to the Arts and to Young People. (Broadstone).
Janet MacGregor. Owner and Senior Manager, Smithfield House Children’s Nursery, City of London. For services to Early Years. (Poole).
Audrey Phyllis Hayter. For services to the community in Witchampton, Dorset. (Wimborne).
Andrew Wickham was appointed Managing Director of Morebus and sister companies Unibus, Bluestar, Unilink, Salisbury Reds, Swindon’s Bus Company, Southern Vectis, Damory, Tourist Coaches, Excelsior Coaches and Hants & Dorset Trim in 2011.
He said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been recognised with an MBE – and am proud that my long career and dedication to the bus industry has been recognised in such a prestigious way.
“I have been fortunate enough to work with some excellent and forward-thinking operators – in areas where local authorities and other stakeholders have shared in my vision to increase the appeal and popularity of bus travel.
“Above all, my own success has been underpinned by the skill and perseverance of my colleagues – past and present. I would like to thank them for the support and dedication they have shown me over the course of my career.”