New Year's Honours: See who's celebrated in RBWM, Slough and Bucks

The New Year Honours list for 2026 has officially been revealed – celebrating key people from Windsor, Slough, Marlow and beyond who have made an outstanding contribution.

Each year, the reigning monarch recognises people with honours such as MBEs, OBEs and CBEs, which are awarded to those who have made significant contributions to public life, their profession or their local community.

Martin Uden from Taplow has been granted an OBE for services to British Veterans of the Korean War and to UK/Korea relations.

A former British diplomat who served three times at the British Embassy in Seoul was called to the Bar in 1977, the same year he joined the Foreign Office.

Mr Uden served as Ambassador to the British Embassy in Seoul between 2008 and 2011. After retiring from the Foreign Office, Martin served as Chief Executive of the British Korean Society and is the National President of the British Korean War Veterans Association.

He now works part-time at his old university, Queen Mary University of London, as its International Partnerships Advisor.

Mr Uden has strived to write biographies and search for photos for deceased British servicemen who were in the Korean War. More than a thousand British servicemen died.

“It's quite a job trying to get it all right but it means a lot to the veterans,” Mr Uden said. “They will all have known some comrade who has died.

“It's something I've been really passionate about since leaving the Foreign Office. The veterans are a much-forgotten part of our history, all in their 90s now, not really recognised for what they did.”

An MBE for services to young people and to the community in Slough has gone to Rob Deeks, CEO of Together As One.

Together As One, previously known as Aik Saath, is a youth-focused charity founded in the 1990s in response to gang violence affecting the South Asian community in the area.

The project quickly evolved to work with all young people, regardless of their faith or background, working to promote safer futures and personal development.

Mr Deeks joined Together As One in 2003 as a project development worker and has since spent more than 20 years with the organisation.

As CEO, he is the man behind ensuring TAO engages with young people, volunteers, staff and the wider community.

He helps develop new projects, programmes and evaluations that get their voices heard. 

"I am immensely proud to be recognised and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me.

"Over the years the town has grown into a more cohesive and resilient place. I am immensely proud that Together As One has played a part in that journey.

"The work I am most proud of has been directly inspired by young people themselves.

"Last year we undertook a beekeeping project which connected young people to the natural world, resulted in donations of honey to Slough Foodbank.

"We have seen what is possible when Slough's community works together and young people are empowered to lead change in their own communities. When that happens, extraordinary things can follow."

Helen Cooke, from Windsor, has been given a CBE for services to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Ms Cooke is the CEO and founder of MyPlus, a UK consultancy focused on disability inclusion and employment.

After working for Mars for 10 years, she founded MyPlus with a view to ensure that no disability or long-term health condition prevents anyone from having the career they want.

As well as leading the organisation’s overall strategy and management, Ms Cooke runs employer events and does keynote speaking and panel work.

She is also on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list, which recognises the most influential disabled people in the UK each year.

Ms Cooke said she was ‘shocked but delighted’ to be on the New Years Honours list.

“I'm a wheelchair user – I had a spinal tumour as a baby – and I've been fortunate enough to have a very rewarding career,” she said.

“I really value what work provides. It’s about building our confidence, our self-worth, it's about belonging. People want to work and I don’t think anyone should be excluded from that.

“I'm a great believer that there’s a huge talent pool [of disabled people] – you develop certain skills like resilience and problem solving, all valuable in the workplace.”

The founder of Scamp & Dude clothing brand, Joanna Tutchener Sharp, has an OBE for services to fashion and charity in Berkshire.

Launched in 2016, Scamp & Dude launched its flagship store in Marlow, and its registered office remains within the town.

Ms Tutchener Sharp, from Cookham Dean, created the company’s first product – the Superhero Sleep Buddy – after recovering from brain surgery, when she was separated from her children.

She made this line with the idea of giving children comfort when they are apart from family.

For every Superhero Sleep Buddy sold, another would be donated to a child who has lost a parent or is seriously ill themselves.

So far, the company has donated a Sleep Buddy to more than 10,000 children.

Ms Tutchener Sharp said: “I'm truly honoured to receive such a special award and for our hard work over the past 10 years to be recognised by The King.

"Our vision has always remained the same; to bring purpose and compassion to everything we do.

"For this to be recognised in such a powerful way is a privilege, and one I share with everyone in our brilliant Scamp & Dude community who has supported us, whether they've given, received, worn, shared or supported in any way.

"This moment is theirs too.”

A Windsor man, Stephen Hedley, has an MBE for services to ending homelessness.

Mr Hedley is the founder and chief executive of Trinity Homeless Projects, a charity which works closely with Slough Homeless Our Concern (SHOC).

It seeks to end homelessness by providing accommodation, coaching, training and pathways to independent living for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.

The organisation was registered in 2007 with Mr Hedley at the helm.

He has a long history of engagement in homelessness support; he was once homeless himself, and ‘needed the help of strangers.’

That experience shaped his commitment to supporting others in similar circumstances.

Under his leadership, Trinity Homeless Projects has grown into a recognised charity offering a range of services, including emergency accommodation.

He said: "It's not only an honour to be recognised, it also helps raise this critical social issue. I accept this honour on behalf of all those forced to sleep rough tonight and all those families in temporary accommodation. Homeless should and can be ended."

A known face and name around Datchet has earned an MBE for services to the community in the village.

David Smith has been rolling up his sleeves for years as a long-standing Datchet community figure with involvement across several local organisations.

He is a key member of the Datchet Beer Festival organising team. As its co-founder and finance & operations director, Mr Smith has ‘driven it forward’ using his organisational skills and ‘passion for making a memorable event for everyone.’

As well as helping establish this event as a regular fixture in the village calendar, he has also been active in the Royal British Legion’s Datchet branch, and has represented it publicly on local issues.

Mr Smith has also previously been involved in the Scouts since 1983 and is district commissioner of Windsor and Eton Scouts.

He has also been chairman of the Datchet Village Fête since 1992 and has been organising Remembrance Sunday events in the village for a long time.

Mr Smith said: “I’ve always helped wherever I can. I’ve always done it – I was brought up with it.”

He is unsure who nominated him or specifically what for but believes it is likely to be a result of his more than 40 years of work in the community.

“I was thrilled to receive the letter. You don’t do all these things for rewards but it is nice to be recognised,” he said.

The former leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett, has been awarded a CBE for political and public service.

Cllr Tett has lived in Little Chalfont with his family for more than 30 years and his passions involve ‘keeping Bucks beautiful’, battling back against fly-tipping.

The Conservative ward councillor for Chalfont St Giles & Little Chalfont has been active on local environmental matters, including opposing high-speed rail development HS2.

Cllr Tett took charge of the former Buckinghamshire County Council in 2011, before becoming leader of the newly formed unitary authority of Buckinghamshire Council in 2020 and retaining this position until earlier this year – thus serving as leader for a total of 14 years.

After the Conservatives lost control of Bucks Council in May, Cllr Tett stepped down as leader to take a backbench role in the council.

Buckinghamshire Council congratulated him in a statement, saying: “During his time as Leader of Buckinghamshire Council and previously Buckinghamshire County Council, Martin guided Buckinghamshire through unprecedented change and challenge.

“His leadership was instrumental in the successful creation of the unitary council during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing together five legacy councils to deliver more efficient, responsive, and community-focused services.”

Steven Broadbent, current leader of Buckinghamshire Council, added:

"Martin’s impact on the national stage has been pivotal. His leadership and advocacy have ensured that Buckinghamshire and places like it are fully represented in shaping local government policy.”