Alumni recognised in King’s New Year Honours 2025
BEM for rowing umpire of 45 years’ standing
Six members of St John’s including an Olympic rowing umpire, archaeologists specialising in Holocaust and Islamic heritage and other leading educators have been awarded accolades in the King’s New Year Honours 2025.
The honours recognise the achievements and public service of people across the UK.
David Biddulph, a retired engineer and international rowing umpire, becomes a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to rowing.
David, who came up to St John’s in 1969 to study Engineering and was a member of the College's Lady Margaret Boat Club, is a long-serving umpire for British and World Rowing who was still umpiring for Britain until the end of 2024. He qualified as a national umpire in 1979, gaining Multi-Lane endorsement in 1992 and FISA (now World Rowing) status in 1995, and umpired the Men’s pair final at the 2012 London Olympics.
David has been a prolific volunteer as an umpire in Britain and is known to many in the rowing community for creating one of the earliest rowing information websites.
Alastair Marks, British Rowing Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said: “Volunteers like David, whose continued dedication and contribution have had a lasting impact on the sport, are highly valued by the community. It’s truly gratifying to see him receive the recognition he so richly deserves.”
In 2012 David was awarded a Medal of Honour, British Rowing’s highest award, for outstanding service to rowing.
OBE for services to Holocaust research and education
Professor Gilly Carr, who is Professor of Conflict Archaeology and Holocaust Heritage at the University of Cambridge, becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Holocaust research and education.
Professor Carr, who is a Fellow of St Catharine’s College, first came to St John’s in 1994 to do an MPhil in World Archaeology followed by a PhD, graduating from each in 1995 and then 2000.
She is a member of both the UK delegation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the academic advisory board for the UK Holocaust Memorial Centre. Professor Carr, who won the European Heritage Prize in 2020, has a particular research interest in wartime incarceration, internment and imprisonment and 2024 saw the publication of her latest book, A Materiality of Internment, which involved interviews with more than 65 former internees.
She said: “I am absolutely thrilled for my research and teaching to be recognised in this way. I've been working hard on behalf of victims of Nazism and the Holocaust for 15 years and for this to be seen as nationally important and worthwhile encourages me to continue my work with vigour.”
CB for public service in government roles
Jessica Glover has been made a Companion of the Order of Bath (CB) for public service. Following Director General roles in the Cabinet Office, Jessica was appointed to the role of Director General, Growth and Productivity in HM Treasury in July 2023. She oversees the Treasury’s work on spending and policies to create sustainable growth across the UK and serves as Chief Scientific Adviser for HM Treasury.
Jessica studied Modern Languages at St John’s from 1995 to 1999.
MBE for transforming lives through tutoring charity
Susannah Hardyman, founder and former CEO of national education charity Action Tutoring, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Education.
Susannah, who this month took up the post of Chief Executive at Impetus – the private equity foundation that works with education and youth organisations to improve outcomes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds – was an undergraduate at St John’s from 2004-2007 taking her degree in Theology and Religious Studies.
Congratulating her on the MBE in a social media post, Action Tutoring said: “This incredible honour recognises Susannah’s dedication and impact as the founder and leader of Action Tutoring, an organisation that has transformed the lives of thousands of young people facing disadvantage through the power of education.
“From starting Action Tutoring in 2011 to seeing it grow into a national charity, Susannah’s vision has inspired countless volunteers, schools, and pupils to work together toward educational equity. Her passion and commitment have been at the heart of our mission to narrow the attainment gap.”
In 2023 Susannah was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award (now known as the King’s Award for Voluntary Service) in recognition of the significant impact made by Action Tutoring’s volunteer tutors on disadvantaged pupils across England.
MBE for promoting teaching and learning of physics
Clare Harvey, CEO of The Ogden Trust – a charitable trust that promotes the teaching and learning of physics and engagement of young people – has also been awarded an MBE for services to Education.
Clare has been Chief Executive of The Ogden Trust since March 2017, sharing her passion for physics with youngsters aged from four to 18, particularly those in under-represented groups, and supporting schools, teachers and universities in enhancing physics education.
She began her degree in Natural Sciences (Physical) at St John’s in 2003, going on to manage the education outreach programmes at the Royal Society as well as working in university physics outreach. Clare qualified as a World Rowing umpire in 2023.
OBE for quarter-century of archaeology work in Bahrain
Professor Timothy Insoll, Al-Qasimi Professor of African and Islamic Archaeology at the University of Exeter, has received an OBE for services to Archaeology in Bahrain and UK/Bahrain relations over the past 25 years.
Professor Insoll, who is founder and director of the University of Exeter’s Centre for Islamic Archaeology, did his PhD in Archaeology at St John’s from 1992-1995 before becoming a Research Fellow until 1998 at the College, where he was also a Tutor in Archaeology and Anthropology.
He is the Honorary Archaeological Adviser to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. With his research team, which includes Bahraini colleagues, Professor Insoll recently uncovered one of the earliest Christian buildings in Bahrain – the first physical evidence of a long-lost community who were followers of the Church of the East, sometimes also called the Nestorian Church, which was established in 610 CE. A museum preserving the site is due to open in 2026.
Published: 10/1/2025