A St Albans engineer is among Hertfordshire people included in the New Year Honours list.

AECOM director Ant Wilson, who has worked at the St Albans company for 37 years, was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his contribution to sustainable engineering.

READ MORE: Hertfordshire people named in New Year Honours list

Mr Wilson is a director in AECOM’s building engineering team, leading the company’s sustainable development, advanced design and applied research work.

A prominent building services engineer, he promotes low energy and low carbon design, innovation and sustainable construction, improving the energy performance of buildings for clients across the country.

Committed to the promotion and advancement of engineering and sustainability, Mr Wilson regularly lectures at a number of universities and visits schools to encourage young people to consider a career in engineering.

Mr Wilson said: “I am honoured to receive an MBE. The recognition it brings raises the profile of engineering and will help me encourage more people to join the industry.

“Throughout my career I have had the privilege to work with so many brilliant people, both at AECOM and in the wider industry, who have mentored and encouraged me. I would like to thank all them for their support over the past 40 years.”

Patrick Flaherty, AECOM’s UK and Ireland chief executive, said: “We are extremely proud of Ant’s achievement in the New Year’s Honours, which is recognition for his tireless contribution and commitment to the engineering profession.

“Since starting his career with AECOM, Ant has remained at the forefront of efforts to reduce energy consumption and carbon usage in buildings.”

The New Year Honours recognise outstanding achievement or service to the community. They are awarded every year on January 1 by The Queen.

  • An expert in medieval manuscripts, a civil servant responsible for organ donation and a man who helps preserve churches are among others named in the New Year Honour’s list.

Among them is Dr Mary Claire Breay, of Harpenden, who is head of ancient, medieval and early modern manuscripts at the British Library, and has been made an MBE for services to medieval history.

Claire joined the library in 1998 as curator of medieval historical manuscripts and has led the medieval manuscripts department since 2006. She managed the Codex Sinaiticus Project (2002-10) and worked on the library’s campaign to acquire the St Cuthbert Gospel, the earliest intact European book.

She said: “In the last few years I have had the opportunity to work on very exciting projects at the British Library, especially the Magna Carta exhibition and the acquisition of the St Cuthbert Gospel, but none of my work would be possible without the collaboration of my wonderful colleagues in the Medieval Manuscripts team at the library and the support of my family, so I feel this award is for all of them too.”

St Albans resident Edward Webb, former deputy director of tissue, embryology, donation and sponsorship at the Department of Health, has been made a CBE for services to health science.

Catherine Large, of Harpenden, has been made an OBE for services to the creative economy for her work as deputy chief executive officer at Creative and Cultural Skills.

Howard Anthony Guard, of Radlett, has been made an MBE for services to charity and the community in Hertfordshire.

Mr Guard has undertaken this work using his own money and effort and works to keep the buildings looking like their original design.

He was able to purchase St Nicholas Church, in Great Mundham, and turned it into an arts facility which is now used for his small film productions.

As a small production expert he recently completed a 35 minute-long short film about the impact of the First World War on the Hertfordshire communities called A County at War.

Mr Guard uncovered and researched archival material, produced the script and directed the production.

The film is a tribute to the participation of the people of Hertfordshire at all levels of society.

Ann Rosemary Rudeforth was made a medallist of the Order of the British Empire for services to the community in Wheathampstead.