New Year Honours for Downing alumni
It’s been a bumper start to 2025 for six Downing alums who all received honours in the King’s New Year Honours list.
Congratulations to Humphrey Battcock (1973), Dharshini David (1991), Charles Dhanowa KC (1980), Stephen Mannion (1983), Professor Mark Ormerod (1983) and Ken Weatherley (1968).
“On behalf of everyone at Downing College we send our warmest congratulations to Humphrey, Dharshini, Charles, Stephen, Mark and Ken. These honours are well-deserved recognition for their incredible efforts in their chosen fields. We are proud to be associated with them and their success," said Professor Graham Virgo KC (Hon) (1984), Master of Downing.
Humphrey Battcock (1973)
Humphrey was awarded a CBE for services to tackling homelessness and in support of education.
Humphrey has been a Foundation Fellow of Downing since 2013 and has made transformational gifts to support College and students, including the Battcock Lodge building and critical support during the pandemic.
Dharshini David (1991)
Dharshini received an OBE for services to Economics.
Dharshini is Chief Economics Correspondent for the BBC and presents news programmes and documentaries for BBC Radio 4. She started her career as an Economist in Government and was subsequently HSBC Investment Bank’s UK Economist.
Dharshini is the author of ‘The Almighty Dollar’ the best-selling guide to the global economy and ‘Environomics’ which explores how the green economy is transforming our world.
In 2024 Dharshini was also elected as an Honorary Fellow of Downing.
She said: “I am utterly delighted to receive this accolade, though still in shock. It’s been honour enough to have a career exploring, analysing and explaining issues core to everyone’s lives. I share this award with everyone in my professional and personal life who’s supported that - in particular those at Downing who helped give me the vital foundations and confidence to pursue a love of economics.”
Charles Dhanowa KC (1980)
Charles was awarded a CBE for services to competition law.
Stephen Mannion (1983)
Stephen has been given a CMG for exceptional contributions to trauma surgery in disaster and conflict zones overseas.
Stephen is the founder of the charity Feet First which has delivered operations, clinical consultations and Clubfoot treatment for over 35,000 children. He has also volunteered his clinical skills in the treatment of the injured in disaster and war zones around the world for over three decades.
Professor Mark Ormerod (1983)
Mark was awarded an OBE for services to education and to sustainability.
Mark is Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University. Mark joined Keele in 1992 as a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry from Cambridge where he studied, researched and taught for nine years, latterly as the University’s Oppenheimer Fellow, and has dedicated most of his working life to enhancing and promoting environmental sustainability, as well as to education and research.
His research in sustainable materials and surface chemistry and clean chemical technologies, often working with industry, was internationally renowned and led to significant advances in the field.
He said: "Whilst not something I would have ever sought; I am very touched by the award recognising my contribution to education and sustainability. I'm particularly pleased that my contribution to advancing and advocating sustainability has been specifically recognised in the honour, as well as that to higher education more broadly.
"I’ve been very fortunate over my career to work with some outstanding and talented colleagues, some brilliant and inspiring researchers, lots of great research students, and some fantastic collaborators and external partners, who have been instrumental to successes and achievements. These people have provided the inspiration and motivation to always look forward and strive for change to better our students, Keele University and to contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive, fairer and kinder society."
Ken Weatherley (1968)
Ken received an MBE for services to young people, in recognition of his work over many years to support young players in tennis.
A former international tennis player, Ken founded the charity ‘Tennis First’ over two decades ago, with the aim of supporting young British players to reach their potential. He has been the driving force for the charity, which has helped hundreds of young players taking the first steps on their tennis journeys, including Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Joe Salisbury.
“Having responded positively and in timely fashion to the letter from the Cabinet Office in late November, with an assurance that I would accept the award, my first emotion was the satisfaction of being recognised," he said.
"I'm a life-long tennis nut and have worked pretty much all my days as close to tennis as possible. One year as a trainee in a merchant bank was enough! So, to be nominated by tennis folk for my contribution to the sport is both pleasurable and rewarding. Confucius was right - I've never worked a day in my life!”
Published 17 January 2025