PARALYMPIC gold-medallist Kylie Grimes, from Farnham, was one of a raft of local people recognised in the New Year Honours List on Saturday.

Kylie, 34, was made MBE for services to wheelchair rugby, having made history as the first ever woman to win wheelchair rugby gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, held last summer.

She has been playing wheelchair rugby since 2008 following an accident in a diving pool which resulted in a spinal injury.

Kylie plays for the London Wheelchair Rugby Club and was invited to the GB trials in 2011 where she successfully made selection for the squad.

Just a year later she was representing her country as part of the GB wheelchair rugby team at the London 2012 Paralympics.

She represented GB again at the 2016 Rio Games, in the club throw. But returned to the wheelchair rugby arena at Tokyo, winning her first medal at her third Games.

Kylie is a Harlequins Ambassador, motivational speaker and enjoys visiting schools.

Other New Year Honour recipients across the Herald area include:

OBE

* Nicholas Robson OWEN

Lately UK Chair, Deloitte LLP. For services to the Professional Services Sector

(Haslemere, Surrey)

* Thomas James RUTHERFORD

Lately Head, Encryption and Online Safety, Home Office. For services to Public Safety

(Farnham, Surrey)

MBE

* Howard Morgan CLARKE

Research Director, Morgan Innovation and Technology. For services to Business and Entrepreneurship

(Liss, Hampshire)

* Susan Elizabeth CLARKE

Managing Director, Morgan Innovation and Technology. For services to Business and Engineering

(Liss, Hampshire)

* Kylie GRIMES

For services to Wheelchair Rugby (Farnham, Surrey)

* Nicholas Peter MARSH

Consultant Forensic Imaging Practitioner, Metropolitan Police Service. For services to Policing

(Farnham, Surrey)

* Susan Elizabeth PARISH

Business and Community Manager, Park Community School, Havant, Hampshire. For services to Education

(Bordon, Hampshire)

* Emma Louise SIMPSON

Director, Simpson Brickwork Conservation Limited. For services to Heritage Conservation

(Farnham, Surrey)

MEDALLIST OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

* Sharron DE ABREU FARIA

Director of Art and Hospitality, The Right to Work CIC. For services to Supported Volunteers and Artists with Learning Disabilities particularly during Covid-19

(Clanfield, Hampshire)

Full reports to follow in next week’s Herald...