New Year Honours: Fenland Paralympian Jody Cundy is honoured with CBE for his services to cycling

Cycling star Jody Cundy is set for a third trip to Buckingham Palace after being awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List published last night (Friday).

The 43-year-old has been recognised for a third time after his amazing feat of becoming the first man to win medals at seven different games when he competed in the delayed Tokyo event in the summer.

Jody, whose parents Ann and Alan now live in Long Sutton, said he was delighted with this latest award, which comes five years after he was awarded an OBE, having previously been given an MBE in 2008.

This latest honour was made for his contribution to cycling and the Paralympian said he was now looking forward to taking his partner, Lucy, to the Palace when he attends his investiture later this year.

He said: "Normally you are allowed up to three guests, but Covid means the number has been cut to one. My parents have been twice before, so it will be nice to give Lucy the experience. It is a formal, but amazing day."

He was presented with his MBE by the Queen, while Prince William gave him his OBE medal. He is hoping that he will once again have the honour presented by the Queen, in what will be her 70th year as monarch.

Jody, who now lives in Manchester, said: "I was surprised to receive the honour. I never take anything for granted but to be recognised in this way for doing something I love is incredible. I jump on my bike, I ride my bike, and if I inspire people and move people to want to give me honours, it is pretty special."

Jody won both a gold and silver medal in Tokyo bringing his tally across seven Paralympic competitions to: Eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals across cycling and swimming. He started his competitive career in swimming representing Great Britain three times in the Paralympic Games from 1996 to 2004, winning three gold and two bronze medals before switching to cycling in 2006.

As well as his amazing Paralympic success Jody, who was born with a deformed foot, which was amputated when he was three, has won 20 World titles.

He has been out of action since Tokyo having undergone two surgeries and has been unable to ride his bike but he said: "I'm hoping to be ready to ride again this coming week and then I will be working on my fitness in preparation for a the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) World Championships being held in Glasgow in July.

"It will have events from every cycling discipline from road racing, to BMX, mountain biking and track cycling - it will be a real festival of cycling and that is my main goal. However, there is rumoured to be a World Championship in Paris in April and I hope to be fit enough to compete.

"I will aim for the Paris Olympics in 2024, but it will depend on my performance in Glasgow. It will also depend on how I am, I'm 43 so nothing is a given."

Jody regularly pops back to Fenland to visit his mum and dad as well as younger brother, Ashley and his family, who live in Sutton Bridge.

Other local people recognised in this New Year's honours include: Lorna Weston, who lives in Wimblington, and has been awarded an MBE for her services to people with learning difficulties.

She is managing director for Thera East Anglia, a role she has had since November 2014 and has over 20 years' experience working with people with a learning disability in various roles, starting as a support worker.

Lorna’s role is to lead Thera East Anglia and ensure they provide high quality support for people with a learning disability in line with our vision and best practice. Her role was instrumental in helping Thera East Anglia achieve an Outstanding CQC rating in December 2019.

Also receiving an MBE is Danny Newland from March, who is the custodial manager at Littlehey Prison and has received recognition for his public service.

Jody was just one of dozens of champions from across the world of sport to lead the New Year Honours List 2022, with honours for Olympians, Paralympians and those working tirelessly at grassroots level.

Following a scintillating summer of sport for the UK, the New Year Honours List 2022 pays tribute to a huge number of people involved in all aspects of sport. It will also recognise people making outstanding contributions for the environment, and those giving amazing service in the communitsporty.

Married Olympians Laura and Jason Kenny receive a damehood and knighthood in the same honours list, for services to cycling.

Across the List, 78 Olympians and Paralympians have been honoured for their services to sport. Adam Peaty and Tom Daley receive OBEs for raising awareness of mental health and LGBT issues respectively as well as their gold medal winning achievements at Tokyo 2020. There is also an OBE for Hannah Mills for sailing and her continued campaigning on marine pollution and athlete Hannah Cockroft. Other Olympians and Paralympians being honoured include OBE for sprinter and cyclist Kadeena Cox, and MBEs for boxer Lauren Price, diver Matty Lee and BMX racer Bethany Shriever.

Outside of accolades for Tokyo 2020, Emma Radacanu receives an MBE following her incredible US Open win and Chelsea Women's manager Emma Hayes receives an OBE for her work promoting women's football. Sheila Parker, the first captain of the England Women Football Team, is given an MBE for services to football and charity. There is also an OBE for six time World Championship winning superbike racer Jonathan Rea.

There are also a number of honours for those involved at the grassroots level: Anita Choudhrie, the founder of Path to Success, a charity which supports female disabled athletes, is awarded an MBE for services to people with disabilities and disability sports. A BEM is given to Karen Sawbridge for services to grassroots rugby in Bridgnorth and her community, including during COVID-19. John Dent receives an MBE for his work in making sport accessible and representing Great Britain at the Special Olympics. MBEs are also awarded to Gary Bennett, a former Sunderland footballer and one of the first three patrons of the charity Show Racism the Red Card, and Peter Briggs, a former Northern Ireland and Irish International judo champion, who continues to promote and teach the sport.

Recognising their leadership battling COVID-19, knighthoods go to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England Professor Chris Whitty, CMO for Scotland Gregor Smith and CMO for Wales Frank Atherton. Also recognised are Chief Government Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, and Deputy Medical Officers for England Dr Jenny Harries and Professor Jonathan Van-Tam.

For her work on the vaccine rollout, Emily Lawson receives a Damehood. Others honoured for their response to the pandemic include Alice Jackson, Nicola Perfect and Bridget Stratford who receive BEMs for their community responses to COVID-19.

The Honours List continues to give recognition to those showing courage and leadership in their local areas, with 63% of the New Year Honours List awarded for community work.

The List recognises a number of fantastic contributions from people of all ages. Tobias Weller and Max Woosey, 11 and 12 years old respectively, receive BEMs for their huge fundraising efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and are among the youngest ever recipients of an honour. The oldest person on the List is Henry Lewis, who at the age of 102 is Honorary Vice President of magician’s society The Magic Circle and receives an MBE for services to fundraising and charitable causes.

Damehoods are given to actresses Joanna Lumley and Vanessa Redgrave for their services to drama, entertainment and charity. Receiving OBEs are veteran soap stars June Brown and William Roache, alongside actress Cherylee Houstin who receives an MBE for services to drama and to people with disabilities.

Knighthoods for current MPs William Wiggin, Member of Parliament for North Herefordshire and Robert Goodwill MP, Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby. Additionally there is a damehood for former MP Sylvia Heal and a knighthood for former MP the Rt Hon John Battle.

Two Companions of Honour are awarded in the New Year Honours List to veteran politician Lord (Frank) Field of Birkenhead for his lifetime of public service and Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Sir Paul Nurse for his outstanding contribution to scientific research and understanding.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “These recipients have inspired and entertained us and given so much to their communities in the UK or in many cases around the world.

“The honours are an opportunity for us to thank them, as a country, for their dedication and outstanding contribution.”

Sir Hugh Robertson, chair of the Sport Honours Committee andchair of the British Olympic Association, said:

“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were the most testing ever for everyone involved but most particularly the athletes. They lit up the British summer with a series of outstanding performances and fully deserve the recognition that they have received in this year’s list. They, genuinely, did the country proud.”