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New Year Honours for board members

05 January 2009

Delighted South West RDA board members Kelvyn Derrick and Nick Buckland are both preparing for a trip to the Palace having been awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Deputy Chairman Kelvyn was recognised "for services to Engineering in the South West and to International Trade" having spent his whole career in engineering including, for ten years until 2007, as Chief Executive of Hamworthy plc, an engineering company with 900 people worldwide and headquarters in Poole, Dorset. Among his current positions, Kelvyn chairs the South West International Business Forum.

Commenting on receiving news of his award, Kelvyn said: "I was as thrilled as I was surprised. I am particularly pleased that the award recognises the importance of both engineering and international trade to our economy."

Nick's OBE was awarded for "for services to Technology and Innovation". Earlier in his career, Nick spent 20 years working as a senior manager in the UK IT industry, mainly for US companies. His current roles include being Chairman of Tamar Science Park and a board member for Finance Cornwall, Finance South West and Cornwall Enterprise. He is also a Governor of Plymouth University.

Nick said: "This came as a complete shock. I am humbled but also very pleased, especially to have received the award for something I guess I know something about!!"

Also awarded the OBE "for services to International Trade in the South West" was Brian Kemp, a South West RDA board member from 2001 to 2006.

Contact Details

Name James Harper
Tel 01392 229547
Email james.harper@southwestrda.org.uk