New Year Honours List 2025: Recognition for leading figures in dementia care
Dawn Astle, founder of The Jeff Astle Foundation, has been honoured with an MBE for her services to footballers with dementia.
Dawn is the daughter of footballer Jeff Astle and founded The Jeff Astle Foundation after her father died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition he developed from repeated, low level brain trauma believed to have been caused from regularly heading footballs. The Foundation aims to raise awareness of brain injury in all forms of sport and to offer support to those affected. You can find out more about The Jeff Astle Foundation here: https://thejeffastlefoundation.co.uk
Dawn was Dementia Community’s guest speaker at the National Dementia Care Awards at Winchester Cathedral in 2022.
Alongside Dawn, Penelope Watson has been awarded an MBE for services to dementia care in football. Penelope is a dementia campaigner and wife of former England international football player Dave Watson, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2014. You can read more about Penelope’s work here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrwpvlkxkeo
Four more people have been recognised for their work with people who have dementia. They are:
Asma Pandor BEM – Lead Admiral Nurse, Dementia UK, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Nursing (Gloucestershire).
Evelyn Blumenthal BEM – Volunteer, Royal Free Charity. For services to Hospital Volunteering and to Caring for People with Dementia (London, Greater London).
Eileen Gibson BEM – Nurse, Social Worker and Area Manager, Northern Health and Social Care Trust. For services to Older People with Dementia and Adults with Learning Disabilities in County Antrim (Carrickfergus, County Antrim).
Roisin Flynn MBE – For services to People affected by Dementia in the Western Health and Social Care Trust Area (Londonderry, County Borough of Londonderry).
We send our warmest congratulations to all who’ve been honoured. You can read the full New Year 2025 honours list here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-year-honours-list-2025