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Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 – Bath Spa University
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Pro-Vice Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing awarded OBEs in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Thursday, 17 June, 2021

Congratulations to Paul Fox, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Finance and Infrastructure, and Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing, David Almond, who were both awarded OBEs.

Paul Fox has been awarded an OBE for services to Scientific Research in respect of his work as Chief Operating Officer at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) from 2010 before joining Bath Spa in 2019. While at NERC, Paul led the programme to design and build the UK’s new polar research vessel, Sir David Attenborough, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. Paul also led the programme which resulted in two of NERC’s in-house research centres, being established outside of NERC as independent entities.

He has held several senior public-sector finance roles, being previously Divisional Director of Finance at Bath and North East Somerset Council; Director of Finance at Lewisham College, and Assistant Director of Education (Resources) at Hertfordshire County Council.

“I am honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and would like to also thank the colleagues at NERC who worked with me to make these achievements possible.”

Professor Almond has also been awarded an OBE for services to Literature. David Almond is the author of the famous children's novel Skellig and also Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa. His novel later became a film, starring Tim Roth as Skellig.

“I am really thrilled. It's an award for a lifetime's dedication to writing and literature. It's also, I feel, a recognition for all those who have loved, supported, read me, published me and worked with me over the years.

I write about the North in the language of the North. Writing is an act of love, of belief in the power and beauty of language and story. And writing for young people is an act of optimism, a belief that children really can help bring about a better world.”

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021 highlights the efforts made by individuals in all four nations of the United Kingdom. The majority of awards are for the contributions people have made in their communities. Of those receiving an award, 62% are recognised for their community work.

Read the full Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021.

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