Ely leads New Year honours rush

Former Law Society President Philip Ely led the way for the legal profession in the New Year Honours list.

Mr Ely - president from 1991 to 92 - received an OBE for his services as a member of the Legal Services Commission and chairman of the regional legal services committee for London.

He was senior partner, then consultant at Southampton firm Paris Smith & Randall, before he retired.

The most senior award for a solicitor went to Martin Hemming, director of the defence advisory division at the Treasury Solicitors Department, who was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

Solicitor Gloria Hedley-Dent, divisional manager of the planning group in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, was given a CBE for services to planning.

Two district judges - Penelope Hewitt and president of the Association of District Judges George Harrison - also received CBEs for service to the administration of justice.

In the City, SJ Berwin planning partner Pat Thomas was given an OBE for services to town and country planning.

Ms Thomas is a member of the Confederation of British Industry's property management forum and sits on several committees, including the Law Society's planning and environmental law committee.

She said: 'This award is a recognition of the role lawyers play in an area of regulation which affects such a wide range of people.'

Robert Bartlett, senior lawyer at HM Customs & Excise, was also awarded an OBE as was former chairman of the Magistrates Association Harry Mawdsley.

Other notable awards included a CBE for John Tiley, professor of tax law at Cambridge University, and an OBE for Arsha Gosine-Ghosh, senior policy officer in the Crown Prosecution Service.

A military CBE was awarded to Col Charles Garraway, a legal adviser in the Adjutant General's Corps.

Victoria MacCallum