New Year Honours
30 Dec 2023 - Congratulations to MCDOA member Ian Richardson on being appointed an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the newly published 2023 New Year Honours List. Ian qualified as an MCDO in 2001.
Also, congratulations to Ross Balfour (second right in photo below) on being appointed an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the same list. Ross qualified as an MCDO in 2006.
According to the Royal Navy website:
“…Lieutenant Commander Ross Balfour is paving the way for the Service’s switch from traditional forms of minehunting to crewless systems.
Based at Faslane in Scotland, Lt Cdr Balfour is described as the “trailblazer of autonomous Mine Countermeasures systems”, taking something which was being trialled and turning it into a brand-new capability which is revolutionising the way the threat of mines is dealt with – both in home waters and around the world.”
Congratulations are also due to LS(D) Rory Edward Cartwright-Taylor on being appointed an MBE.
According to the Royal Navy website:
“…Also awarded the MBE is Leading Diver Rory Cartwright-Taylor from the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group, which deploys worldwide to support Royal Navy operations – from dealing with mines and underwater explosives to carrying out challenging engineering tasks on submarines. The Faslane-based diver’s personal contribution have [sic] directly impacted on front-line operations.”
Finally, congratulations to WO1(MW) Daniel Dean and WO2(D) Marty Doherty on being gazetted for the award of the MSM (Meritorious Service Medal) for "good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service, with conduct judged to be irreproachable throughout". No more than fifty-one a year may be awarded in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines combined. Also, congratulations to LS(D) Dan Box on being awarded a First Sea Lord’s Commendation.
The full list of naval recipients is available here: