A “biting” Bristol couple to receive MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours

A charitable couple, a pioneering chemist and a wildlife filmmaker are among those who have been recognized in the King’s Birthday Honors list.

Mary and Charles Dobson, from Bristol, were left “gape” after they were each made MBEs for charitable services to children and young adults living with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses.

Meanwhile, wildlife filmmaker Doug Allan said it was a “big surprise” to be made an OBE.

Pioneering chemist Professor Dudley Shallcross made OBE said: “This award is the culmination of a massive team effort, thanks to my amazing family and colleagues.

“We’re just an ordinary couple and now we’re suffering from a bad case of impostor syndrome,” Mr Dobson said.

Following an accident in which their son Julian lost two fingers, Mr and Mrs Dobson, now 80 and 81, founded the Charles and Mary Dobson Charitable Trust in 1988, through which they donate a percentage of their annual salaries to charitable causes.

Fundraising continued through their trust, the Spandex Foundation, which was renamed The Starfish Trust in 1998.

Their charitable trusts have distributed almost £7 million in grants, helping to fund six specialist hydrotherapy pools for disabled children, a meningitis research laboratory at the University of Bristol and the development of a children’s hospice in Bristol, for who gave £1 million.

The two were on holiday in Spain when they received a call from their housekeeper, Sally, who had opened the letter.

Mr Dobson continued: “I was speechless – it was completely out of the blue.

“Sally wanted to know if she was going to have to bow to us when we got home.”

He said they felt “very privileged” to receive the award.

The award also came “out of the blue” for Bristol-based filmmaker and marine conservationist Doug Allan.

He became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the media and promoting environmental awareness.

Mr Allan, who is currently in Canada working on a program about wolves, told the BBC it was “a big surprise”.

– I have no idea who proposed to me.

He said the wildlife series had a conservation message when it started in the 1980s and that message is “coming back”.

“I am very fortunate to have had my chance to create environmental awareness on so many platforms.”

Professor Shallcross has helped more than 10,000 teachers worldwide to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists.

Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry becomes OBE for his outstanding contribution to science education in the UK and abroad.

He said: “My daughter took the morning post with an envelope from the Cabinet so I invited her to open it.

“It was a surprise and my whole family is now very excited.”

Professor Shallcross said his family and everyone he worked with had been “incredibly supportive” throughout his career.

“So this award is a massive collective and I just want to say the biggest thank you.”

He added: “I must pay tribute in particular to my very good friend and colleague Tim Harrison who worked with me on many of these projects and sadly passed away last January before I could accept an MBE award”.

Also honored in Bristol were:

Conductor, teacher and music educator

Chairman, Junior Coach, Manager and Child Protection Officer at Redland Ladies Hockey Club

For services to Hockey in Bristol

Lately Director of Care at Rainbow Trust

For services to seriously ill children and their families