SOMERSET residents received knighthoods, OBEs and more in the New year’s Honours list for 2026.

Dr Stephen Peter Taylor, chief executive officer of the Cabot Learning Federation, received a knighthood for services to education in the list, unveiled this week.

Dr Taylor, of Nailsea, North Somerset, leads the federation which operates 36 schools between Gloucestershire and Somerset.

“Since learning of this award, I have thought about all those colleagues in the Cabot Learning Federation and in the wider sector, whose work and successes have inspired me over the years to strive to do my best for the children we serve,” Dr Taylor said.

“Anything I would count as an achievement has come about as the result of working in collaboration with great people I have had the privilege of knowing, in the CLF and beyond. That includes a number of leaders in the Queen Street Group whose work in education has been recognised over the years, and I feel fortunate to have them as colleagues.

“I am extremely grateful for this honour and look forward to sharing the news with colleagues and sharing the experience with my family, whose support I never take for granted.”

Elsewhere, in the list, Joanna Shanmugalingam, of Bath, was awarded the Order of the Bath for her work as second permanent secretary at the Department for Transport for services to transport and innovation.

Rugby star Marlie Packer, born in Yeovil, was awarded an OBE for services to rugby, while Paul Freeston, of Bath, former chair and chief executive officer of Apetito was awarded the same honour for services to the food and drink industry.

Bath-based Simon Taylor, a volunteer for the Liberal Democrats was also made an OBE for political and public service.

MBEs went to Martin Baker, of Taunton, the chief commercial affairs officer and managing director, Paralympics, at Channel 4 for services to broadcasting, Fiona Bloor and Terry Thatcher at the Hydrographic Office in Taunton, Bath’s Eileen Clark, vice-chair of the Pickwick Academy Trust Board and chair of the School Improvement Committee, and James Deane, founder of Sporting Family Change, for services to sport and fitness in Bath and North East Somerset.

The same honour was bestowed on Jane Hadfield, lately a board member at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, Bristol, for services to education, and to Martin Hodgson, of Axbridge, chief executive officer of the YMCA Dulverton Group, for services to the community in Somerset.

Chard’s Margaret Maltby, county president for Girlguiding Somerset also received an MBE for services to young people, while Street-based Sarah Massey, managing director for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 was honoured for services to women’s rugby union.

Jonathan Wheatley, managing director at Stonebarn Landscapes Limited was made an MBE for services to horticulture and to charity, while Richard Clothier, managing director at Somerset-based Wyke Farms, was recognised for services to sustainable agriculture and food production.

The 55-year-old said: “To be able to improve the biodiversity and the natural capital and make the air cleaner and be better neighbours is a really important thing for us.

“So to be recognised for that is a really nice and humbling thing and a real honour for the team as well.”

The following Somerset-linked people were named as Medallists of the Order of the British Empire:

• Susan Collard, of Weston-Super-Mare, a fundraiser for the Bone Cancer Research Trust, for charitable service.
• Ronald Homer, treasurer of the Yeovil Visually Impaired Bowls Club, for services to blind and partially-sighted people in Somerset.
• Susan Marshall, for services to education and to the community in Weston-Super-Mare.
• Geoffrey Pinney, of Taunton, group president of the West Hatch Scout Group for services to young people in Somerset.
• Victoria Seymour, a former tutor at Somerset Skills and Learning, for services to skills.
• Christine Storry, procurement manager at Bath and North East Somerset Council, for services to sustainable and local food procurement.

READ MORE: Click here for the full New Year’s Honours list for 2026 from the UK Government