New Year’s Honours 2024: outstanding contributions to Hackney recognised
‘Humbled and delighted’: Lorraine Sunduza
Several prominent people providing health, educational and cultural services to Hackney feature in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.
Lorraine Sunduza, Interim Chief Executive of the East London Foundation Trust, been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Mental and Community Health.
The East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) is an NHS body that serves Hackney and other areas of East London. Lorraine was appointed as its interim Chief Executive in 2023. She started her career working in adult mental health inpatient services and joined ELFT in 2002 as a charge nurse in the forensic mental health directorate. She has previously worked as the trust’s Chief Nurse and Deputy CEO.
On hearing news of her gong, Lorraine said: “I am humbled and delighted to be chosen to receive an OBE. The honour for me is actually being chosen for the things that I am passionate about. I know that I could not have done any of it without the tremendous support that I have from my family, friends, and colleagues.”
A MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) was handed to Jane Betsworth, headteacher of Millfields Community School, for services to education. The Clapton school has a particularly large number of pupils with autism, and Betsworth has campaigned to obtain better facilities for the children who study there.
Duncan Holden. Photograph: Rob Low
Cricket Co-ordinator and Safeguarding Officer of Stoke Newington Cricket Club Duncan Holden was also awarded a BEM (Medal of the Order of the British Empire) for services to sport. Holden is a former City lawyer who switched to full-time coaching over ten years ago.
Maureen Cox has received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for charitable services.
Note: This article was amended at 13:00 on Tuesday 2 January 2024 to correct the name of Duncan Holden’s award to BEM. The article originally stated that he was awarded an OBE.