21 Jun 2023
Harpenden Paralympic legend David Clarke has been made an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
David, 52, who is chief executive of the British Paralympic Association, was recognised for his contribution to Paralympic sport.
Between 1998-2012 he scored 128 goals for England as part of Great Britain’s blind football team, and was a stadium torchbearer at the 2012 Olympics.
A former director of St Albans Chamber of Commerce, David told the Times: “Receiving an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List was a huge surprise and a real opportunity for me to reflect on all of those people who have helped me to move forward and succeed in my sporting and professional career.
“This includes my amazing family who sacrificed a lot to enable me to pursue my Paralympic dreams, my parents who taught me the importance of striving to be the best version of myself every day, and my coaches, colleagues and friends who have all helped me along the way.
“I should also pay tribute to the business community of the city and district of St Albans who have always supported me through my work with the Chamber of Commerce and in my professional work in the banking sector.
“Similarly, a huge thank you goes to all those at St Albans City FC and Harpenden Colts who have always made me feel so welcome and given me the chance to share my experiences as a Paralympian with players and coaches alike. It is a huge honour to receive this prestigious award and I hope all of those who have helped me will feel a real sense of shared pride.”
Other local honours included OBEs for Dr Kavitha Kishen. deputy director for security, resilience and strategy, Government Office for Science, for services to national resilience and diversity in government science and engineering, Dr Simon Robert Pender. deputy director in the Cabinet Office, for services to national security, a BEM for Anne Wingate for services to beekeeping, and MBEs for Hearts Milk Bank co-founders Gillian Weaver and Dr Natalie Shenker for their services to human milk banking and charity.
