Nine people across the Channel Islands have been honoured by King Charles III in the New Year Honours list.

In Jersey, Advocate Cyril Whelan, Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey, Nicholas Kershaw, and Solange Rebours have become Members of the Order of the British Empire, while Gordon Burgis has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

In Guernsey, Deputy Jayne Ozanne has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Helen Glencross has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire, Alice De Freitas has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal, and Gerry Le Roy has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

Cyril Whelan (Jersey)

Advocate Cyril Whelan has become an MBE for services to Jersey’s judiciary.

He spent 28 years as the senior legal adviser in the Law Officers’ Department and was appointed to the office of Crown Advocate immediately upon its creation in 1987. He has also acted as Attorney General from time to time.

Advocate Whelan said: “To be favoured with recognition in my native island by the good grace of His Majesty is deeply touching and I am truly grateful.

“Although I am named on the award, the iceberg effect prevails. The award is founded on the sacrifices made by caring parents, the patience of mentors, the support of friends and family, and the long road travelled with my wife, Renata, without whose love and guiding influence this happy circumstance could never have arisen.”

Advocate Whelan is also a judge of the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal and a Relief Coroner.

Alison Fossey (Jersey)

Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey has become an MBE for services to Island policing and the wider community of Jersey.

Det Supt Fossey has been instrumental in implementing innovative strategies and campaigns that have strengthened protection for victims and improved investigative standards.

She has been a senior officer in several high-profile cases in Jersey, including investigations into historic child abuse and the Haut de Mont explosion.

Nicholas Kershaw (Jersey)

Nicholas Kershaw has become an MBE for services as Chair of Every Child Our Future and Co-chair of the Jersey Community Foundation.

Mr Kershaw said: I’m honoured to receive this award, but this is absolutely a tribute to those amazing organisations and the incredible people who I have been lucky enough to work with it.

“We have great teams in Every Child Our Future and the Jersey Community Foundation, and they have made those organisations the successes that they are.”

Solange Rebours (Jersey)

Guide leader Solange Rebours has become an MBE for services to the Girlguiding movement.

Reflecting on receiving the news, she said: “I was very shocked as it was not something I was expecting. Once it sunk it, I felt absolutely thrilled. I would like to thank and pay tribute to the leaders in Jersey, who really are absolutely amazing. This award is for them.”

Ms Rebours joined Girlguiding when she was ten years old and went on to lead her own unit, eventually becoming Island Commissioner and Chief Commissioner for South-west England.

She remains Island treasurer and a Guiding vice-president, and a trustee of the movement in both Jersey and Southwest England.

Gordon Burgis (Jersey)

Pioneering surfer and sailor Gordon Burgis has been awarded the BEM for services to Jersey’s sailing community.

He said: “I am honoured and feel very privileged to receive this award granted by his Majesty the King.

“The award reflects the wonderful collective support I have been fortunate to receive from two major clubs in the Island, the Jersey Surfboard Club and the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club.

“The recognition also represents the energy and dedication of all those participating in the Hobie fleet’s activity over the years especially the junior sailors.

“My sincere thanks and appreciation to those who nominated me for the award.

“I also thank my wife Elaine and our family for their unwavering support and to all those who have helped and believed in me which has been so instrumental in this journey. This award is not mine alone it belongs to everyone who has helped guide me and shared in this path.”

Deputy Jayne Ozanne (Guernsey)

Deputy Jayne Ozanne has become an OBE for services to religion and the LGBTQ+ community.

She appeared in the 2026 New Year’s Honours list on the recommendation of the UK Prime Minister.

Deputy Ozanne became an elected member of the States of Guernsey after moving back to the island in 2024.

She founded the Ozanne Foundation charity, which works with religious organisations around the world to eliminate discrimination based on sexuality or gender.

Deputy Ozanne also set up and chaired the UK Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, which brought together all those who campaigning for a fully inclusive ban on Conversion Therapy.

She is currently a Research Fellow at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University, where she conducts research into religion, law and LGBT+ related matters.

Last year, she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kent for her work relating to equality.

Helen Glencross (Guernsey)

Helen Glencross has become an MBE for services to heritage in Guernsey.

She was appointed Head of Heritage Services for the States of Guernsey in 2019, and is responsible for four museums and over 80 historic sites – housing more than 80,000 artefacts and 3,000 artworks.

Mrs Glencross chaired the Liberation Day Oversight Committee for the 80th anniversary of the end of the German Occupation, which included a two-day visit by The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence.

The commemorations featured a large-scale firework and inaugural drone display watched by more than 38,000 people from around 50 countries.

Mrs Glencross was the driving force behind the Island Memories Project, a BBC partnership creating a sound archive of World War II personal testimonies.

She also curated events and exhibitions for the coronation of The King, chairs the local Blue Plaque panel, and led the installation of 15 Stolpersteine commemorating local victims of Nazi persecution.

Alice De Freitas (Guernsey)

Alice De Freitas has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal after serving as Government House’s housekeeper for almost 24 years.

She retired from her position at the end of June 2025.

Gerry Le Roy (Guernsey)

Gerry Le Roy has been awarded the BEM for services to public health in Guernsey.

The retired nurse has worked to improve cardiovascular health awareness, along with the likelihood of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest across the Bailiwick.

After a long career as a cardiac specialist nurse, Mrs Le Roy’s affinity for public health continued after retirement.

In 1996, she founded the charity Cardiac Action Group to raise awareness of coronary heart disease along with risk mitigation and rehabilitation.

Mrs Le Roy joined forces with Chief Ambulance Officer to launch Guernsey’s first public access defibrillator programme in 2013.

There were 23 recorded instances of lives saved between 2022 and 2024 through the successful operation of the charity’s defibrillators.

Mrs Le Roy championed the need for a community resuscitation development officer in Guernsey and raised the funds to establish and secure the role.