Rowing star awarded MBE in New Years honours

Olympic gold medal winning rower Zac Purchase has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours list. 

Following in the footsteps of Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, the Marlow rower powered to victory in the lightweight coxless pairs on the Shunyi rowing lake in Beijing this summer.

His rowing partner, Mark Hunter, a member of Leander Rowing Club in Henley, was also honoured with an MBE. 

"I think its brilliant for Zac and a great success story for the sport," said Peter Hunt Marlow rowing club chairman.

"With the excitement of swimming and cycling this summer I'm pleased they remembered the rowers who performed so well. 

"Zac and Mark were a terrific team and a great blend of youth and experience.

"They complemented each other in the same way as Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent."

Away from sport Marlow entrepreneur Peter Jones was awarded a CBE for his services to business and young people. 

The star of BBC's Dragons Den grew up in Maidenhead and currently owns Phones International in Globe Park, Marlow. 

Another honoured in the roll call is firefighter Robert Rea who was awarded a Queen's Fire Service Medal for his work at the national Fire Service College in Gloucestershire.

Robert, a group manager at Reading, joined the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service in June 1982 and during that time worked in both Maidenhead and Slough and was station commander at Windsor. 

He was also responsible for developing and delivering a national urban search and rescue training programme. 

Group Manager Rea said: "I am very proud to have been nominated for this award, it is a tremendous honour. 

"It is a tribute to the brilliant team of people that worked with me at the College and their hard work and dedication to ensuring that the training programme is second to none."