Authors recognised in King's Birthday Honours list
Getty ImagesThe Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and Peter James, writer of the Roy Grace series, are among the South East residents who have been named in the King's Birthday Honours List.
Donaldson, from Horsham in West Sussex, has received a damehood and James, from Pulborough, has been appointed an OBE.
Elsewhere in the region, former England women's rugby coach Gary Street, from Ashford in Surrey, has been appointed an MBE for services to rugby union.
Former gang member Carl Scott, from St Leonards in East Sussex, has also been appointed an MBE for services to the protection of young people, while musician Stefania Passamonte, from Faversham in Kent, has been appointed an MBE for services to music.
Getty ImagesGary Street was the head coach of England's women team between 2007-2015 and won the nation its second Rugby World Cup in 2014.
Street, who had limited speech since having a stroke after a heart bypass operation in 2023, said, with the help of his wife Helen, he was "happy, excited, emotional".
His wife, who played for England when Street was not the coach, added: "The game has grown so much since the 2014 win, and that 2014 team was all amateurs, so the fact we're now at a point where we've got professional contracts, it's just amazing."
Since 2015, Street has been part of a task force dedicated to popularising rugby in countries across Europe.
"To see how he took what we started and really ran with it, and to see that being carried forward with [England coach] John Mitchell and his team, it's just very emotional," Helen added.
Street said being honoured was "humbling" and "amazing".
HandoutStefania Passamonte has been a concert pianist, recording artist, music director, and broadcaster - where she pushes for gender equality in the music industry through her radio programme on Women's Radio Station.
The musician, who is a voting member of the Recording Academy for the Grammy Awards, said she cried when she found out she would be recognised.
"I was surprised and then, of course, super happy and then wondered who had nominated me," she said.
"When I see the people getting the awards I'm thinking: 'Gosh, these people are incredible, they've done such amazing things.' So to be among them is an honour."
Passamonte also founded the London Performing Academy of Music, the London Piano Masters Music Academy, the Climate Opera House, and record label Master Chords Records.
She said she had never imagined growing up in Italy that one day she would be recognised by the British royal family.
"I love this country and the people in this country, and it's open-minded and generous and supportive.
"It's such an incredible place for art and culture and education," Passamonte, who had British citizenship, said.
"So being part of it was already an incredible dream come true and now this, words from the King, it's beyond any dream."
Carl Scott spent time in prison following the death of his best friend, who was stabbed, and he subsequently dedicated his life to supporting others and becoming a youth coach.
He said he was "shocked" to have been named on the King's list and even had to call the Cabinet to double-check.
"I saw the 'Palace's Majesty's Services' on the top of the envelope and I was like: 'What is that? I'm a good boy now'," he said.
"My award has come from the support I have had from everybody else who has followed me through this journey, so I've got an MBE, but so has everybody else."
Scott also launched a campaign to install bleed-control cabinets to help stabbing victims, resulting in more than 300 being installed across London, and 58 in Sussex.
"It inspires me massively. Not everybody gets an award like this," he says.
"It's not an easy thing like with other awards you can get across the country where it's just a simple nomination on an Instagram post. It's a huge award.
"I'm just going to continue. Carl Scott MBE or no MBE, I'm still going to go out and do the work."
Elsewhere in Surrey, Mole Valley's David Bowles, the head of campaigns and public affairs at the RSPCA, has been appointed an OBE for services to animal welfare.
Surrey Wildlife Trust CEO Sarah Chimbwandira has also been appointed an MBE for services to the environment and Surrey County Council chair Tim hall has been appointed an MBE for public service.
In Sussex, Chichester District Council chair Clare Apel has been appointed an MBE for services to the voluntary sector, to local government and to Holocaust education.
Newhaven's Phillip Corsi, lately area operations manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, has been appointed an MBE for services to maritime safety and Coastguard team leader Richard Rowsell, from Bexhill, has been appointed an MBE for voluntary service to maritime safety,
In Kent, Deputy Chief Officer at Kent Police Ian Drysdale has been appointed an MBE for services to policing, and Kyle Gordon, a British Transport Police sergeant from Swanley, had been appointed an MBE for services to transport policing.
Former England and Wales Cricket Board president Ian Lovett, from Sevenoaks, has also been appointed an MBE for services to cricket and charity.
