Ben Ainslie among honoured Exeter Alumni

With the recent uproar surrounding the events of the SSB, it is a refreshing change to celebrate the achievements of Exeter’s alumni and Honorary Graduates which have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.

Those that were included in the list are as follows, and range from an Olympic medallist to the Head of Education for London 2012.

Dr Ben Ainslie (Hon LLD 2005), who secured his fourth consecutive gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, is knighted.

Nick Fuller (English 1982) receives the MBE for his services as the Head of Education for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tony Sims (History 1982), Director, 2012 Delivery, UK Trade and Investment, receives the OBE for services to industry through the British Business Embassy.

Christine Leon (Biology 1977), Head of Chinese Medicinal Plants Authentication and Conservation Centre at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, receives the MBE for her services to the UK-China science relationship.

Geraint Davies (Economics and Statistics 1976), Senior Partner at Grant Thornton in Wales, receives a CBE for his voluntary and charitable work – he is on the board and advisor to a number of charities in Wales, most notably for 32 years with the Aberfan Disaster Fund. He is also board member for several other arts and music organisations in Wales.

Professor Leslie Iversen (Hon DSc 1982) who is the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs receives a CBE for services to Pharmacology.

Tyler Elliott, a student of Psychology, expressed “It’s great to see that so many members of the alumni have received such fantastic recognition for their achievements. It really shows me how lucky I am to be at such a prestigious university.”