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Queen's Birthday Honours 2014

A number of members of the University were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours, which were announced on Saturday 14 June.

Professor Colin Blakemore, FRS, FMedSci, Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience and Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, was knighted for services to scientific research, policy and outreach. Sir Colin was Waynflete Professor of Physiology from 1979 to 2007, and Professor of Neuroscience from 2007 to 2012. He is currently Director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses, at the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London. He said: 'Life has its ups and downs: this is definitely an up! Being a scientist is a delight, but also a privilege. The progress of science depends on the confidence of the public and politicians, and I’ve always believed that scientists have an obligation to share their excitement, their knowledge and also their concerns with the whole of society. Scientists must be prepared to engage in debate and dialogue, even on difficult and challenging issues, if we are to maintain the trust of society and the support of government. I’m especially pleased, then, that this honour has recognised my efforts to contribute to the dialogue between science and society. I hope that it will be seen as recognition for the efforts of all those scientists who devote time and energy to public communication.' 

Professor Martin Biddle, OBE, FBA, FSA, Emeritus Fellow of Hertford College, is made CBE for services to archaeology. Professor Biddle was Professor of Medieval Archaeology at Oxford from 1997 to 2002 and Astor Senior Research Fellow in Medieval Archaeology at Hertford College from 1989 to 2002. He has been Director of the Winchester Research Unit since 1968, and is Archaeological Consultant for Canterbury Cathedral and St Albans Cathedral, and Chairman of the Fabric Advisory Committee (FAC) of Winchester Cathedral.

John Simpson, Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) at Oxford University Press and Emeritus Fellow of Kellogg College, is made OBE for services to literature. Mr Simpson was editor of the OED for 20 years from 1993 until his retirement in October last year. He joined the OED editorial staff in 1976. Under his editorship, over 60,000 new words and meanings were added to the OED.

Also honoured were Professor John Pethica, FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser at the National Physical Laboratory, Vice-President of the Royal Society and Visiting Professor and former Professor of Materials Science (1996-2001) at the Department of Materials, who was knighted for services to science; and Professor Richard Sorabji, CBE, FBA, Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College and former British Academy Research Professor at Oxford (1996-1999), who was knighted for services to philosophical scholarship. Dr Damian Jenkins, lecturer in medicine and biomedical sciences at St Hugh's College, was appointed MBE for his service as Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps.