HOOK and Odiham featured heavily in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List this year as five MBEs and BEMs were awarded.

Two sports stars were among those to receive MBEs following Olympic success in Rio in the summer of 2016.

The first was Team GB’s Alex Danson, who was part of the women’s hockey team to win Great Britain’s first ever women’s hockey gold medal at the Olympics.

Alex was a vital cog in the wheel that saw the women’s team roll on to Olympic glory, with the former Odiham hockey player finishing the tournament in Brazil with five goals to her name as they proceeded to win all eight games, including a nail-biting final vs the Netherlands in front of nine million viewers.

The 31 year old was also a key figure in London 2012 as Team GB’s women won bronze.

A former Alton Hockey Club player, Alex has been awarded the honour along with the 14 members of the hockey team, with captain Kate Richardson-Walsh awarded an OBE.

Before jetting off on a winter break, she wrote a thank you message on Twitter following the news: “I’ll be smiling all the way into 2017, such a huge honour for our sport, staff and every one of our hockey family. Thank you.”

The other sports star to be awarded an MBE was Justin Rose for his services to Golf. Like Alex Danson, Justin Rose also tasted Olympic success in Rio, as he became the first Olympic golf champion since 1904, after the sport was reinstated to the games after a 112-year absence.

The former Robert May’s student and North Hants Golf Club member won a thrilling final round, beating Open Championship winner Henrik Stenson to claim top spot on the podium.

As Justin looks ahead to hopefully more Major success in 2017, he wrote on Twitter: “Wow, blown away to be recognised on New Year’s honours list. The British public have supported me hugely for all my career. I’m indebted.”

The final of the three MBE recipients was Tessa Morrish who was honoured for services to people with cystic fibrosis.

The South Warnborough resident has fundraised for 20 years to support the treatment and research of cystic fibrosis, and has raised over £2 million in the process.

Working closely with Imperial College Hospital she has raised over £750,000 for gene therapy research into the disease in connection with the cystic fibrosis North Hants branch.

Mrs Morrish, has a daughter aged 36 who suffers from cystic fibrosis, and has received treatment at Frimley Park Hospital since the age of four.

With fellow parents in tow, Mrs Morrish has raised over £1million for treatment at the hospital and speaking to The Herald after being awarded her MBE, she said: “It means the world to me. I’m completely overwhelmed and humbled by it.

“I wear two hats with fundraising, Gene Therapy research for Cystic Fibrosis North Hants Branch with the help of Imperial College London where over £750,000 has been raised for research into Cystic Fibrosis.

“The other is fundraising with fellow parents for treatment of cystic fibrosis at Frimley Park hospital where we have raised over £1.2 million. We have now made Frimley Park a centre of excellence for cystic fibrosis.

“I have been fundraising for the last 20 years, and none of it would have been possible without the help and support of my family and friends.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy North Hants Branch is aided each year by Tessa and her friends hosting a carol concert at All Saints Church in Odiham, where she says it is given “fantastic local support”.

Those awarded BEMs where two people who had served the community of North Hampshire with two different skills.

The first was John Champion, chairman of the Odiham Society was awarded his BEM For services to the 800th Anniversary Commemoration of Magna Carta.

Speaking to The Herald, Mr Champion, who was one of three awarded honours for their services to Magna Carta celebrations said: “It was a complete surprise, out of the blue - and humbling, since so many other people in many communities are deserving.

“I was lucky enough to have the support of a great team of talented people who brought their skills to bear during our three years of preparation and our year of Magna Carta 800th in 2015. 

“Odiham was fortunate to be able to ride on the national programme of Magna Carta 800th led by Sir Robert Worcester and I believe our enthusiasm was used as an example to inspire others as 2015 approached.”

The final honorary in this year’s list was Hamish ­, the founder of the Matthew Elvidge Trust, who was awarded a BEM for services to suicide prevention and bereavement support.

Hartley Whitney-based Mr Elvidge speaking to The Herald said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported us in any way! We have been given an award in the Queen’s New Year Honours, which recognises the important work of the trust and the wonderful support of so many people over the last seven years.

“We started in 2010 and have been going seven years now. This honour is for the trust rather than me personally, I am honoured to be honoured in this way, and the award is for the people who have supported us over the last seven years. We hope it reflects the importance of the work we do.

“We hope 2017 is the year mental health becomes the centre of learning for young people at schools, colleges and university.”