Bristol businessman and charity champion Stephen Parsons has been appointed MBE in the New Year Honours list.
Mr Parsons, pictured, splits his time between specialist engineering firm Redcliffe Magtronics, where he is chairman, and his extensive charity work. He also chairs the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) social enterprise sub group, is Deputy Lieutenant for Bristol, and last October stepped down as chair of Quartet Community Foundation, the organisation that matches philanthropists’ donations with good causes across the West of England, after four and a half years in the post.
He has worked at Redcliffe Magtronics for just over 19 years. The firm makes a range of metering, test and measuring equipment for use in sectors spanning defence, nuclear, retail, transport and oil & gas. The firm was formed in the 1930s and has its roots in the then emerging radio and radar industries. 
His MBE has been awarded for services to education and the community in Bristol.
Mr Parsons, who describes himself as a “passionate, committed Bristolian”, chairs a number of charitable organisations including the Bristol Cathedral Trust, the Bristol Cathedral Choir School, the Cathedral Primary School and The Charitable Trust of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals. He is a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers and is active on several of its committees including the Cote Charity.
He attended Bristol Cathedral School in the 1960s before studying law at the University of Leeds.
A total of 1,164 people were honoured by the Queen in the New Year list, three-quarters of whom have been recognised for work in their communities.
Other recipients of honours in the list include Peter Madden, former chief executive officer of the Forum for the Future think tank, who lives in Bristol.
Mr Madden led the London-based organisation for nearly eight years until June 2013. Previously head of policy at the Environment Agency, director of the Green Alliance and head of policy at Christian Aid, he is now chief executive of the Future Cities Catapult looking at how to bring innovation to cities. He received his OBE for services to environmental and sustainable development.
Patrick Hallgate, Western route managing director at Network Rail, received an MBE “for services to the economy in the South West”. Mr Hallgate, who has been in his job for three years, has a Masters degree in operational psychology from the University of Bristol. Network Rail’s Western region covers routes from London Paddington through Bristol to the West Country and South West.
However, the honour came as Network Rail was embroiled in controversy over late-running repairs during the Christmas break which sparked chaos when commuters returned to work to find a number of stations closed.
Alasdair Glen Stirling, head of future submarines at the Ministry of Defence, was appointed CBE for services to defence.
Fiona Jane Andrews, director of Smokefree South West, received the MBE for services to public health and tobacco control.
Bristol resident Prof Julian Le Grand, Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and former policy advisor to Tony Blair, received a knighthood for services to social science and public service.
Bristol resident Melvin Lee, senior project manager at Surrey-based defence firm Jankel, which makes protection equipment and armouring for military vehicles, received the MBE for services to the Armed Forces.
