John Iredale, Professor of Medical Science has been awarded a knighthood for services to medical research, including supporting young scientific talent and his work in the area of inflammation research.

Sir John said: "I am surprised and humbled by this extraordinary honour. I have had the good fortune to work in great UK universities, our NHS and had the opportunity to contribute to both the MRC and charitable sectors. It has been hugely rewarding and exciting, but in all of these organisations, it has been my privilege to work with the most extraordinary teams and this award also recognises and reflects their outstanding work. Science is a team sport."

Sir John has recently returned to the university after being seconded to the UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC) as its interim Executive Chair. Part of UKRI, the MRC is the major government funding body for research at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health.

As well as being Professor of Medical Science at Bristol, Sir John is Chair of the Board of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Chair of the Lister Institute and was previously President of the Medical Research Foundation, a Trustee of the British Heart Foundation and a board member of the Francis Crick Institute. He chaired main Panel A for REF 2021.

He is an Honorary Consultant Physician at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and served for six years as a Non-Executive Director at NBT.

A clinical scientist, Sir John was at the forefront of inflammation research for over twenty years, advancing understanding of solid organ fibrosis by identifying that it is, at least in part, reversible and that macrophages are essential to both development and resolution of tissue scarring. For many years he has focussed on developing the next generation of scientists.

As a Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Bristol he led the Faculties of Health and Life Sciences and showcased his vision in the formation of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC).

Sir John joined the University in 2016 from the University of Edinburgh where he was the Regius Professor of Medical Science. Whilst at the University of Edinburgh he led the creation of novel and innovative career programmes for clinical academic and scientific staff, including the Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track (ECAT).  

More recently he has developed and led a similar scheme for medical, dental, veterinary, nursing and allied health professional staff across GW4, a collaboration between the universities of Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, called GW4 Clinical Academic Training Programme for Health Professionals (GW4-CAT HP).

CBE for University historian

Professor Ronald Hutton from the University of Bristol’s Department of History has been awarded a CBE for services to history.

Professor Hutton said: "This is a tremendous honour, and I am delighted above all to bring a little further distinction to the university in which I have spent most of my working life."

Professor Hutton is a leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the 16th and 17th centuries, ancient and medieval paganism and magic, British folklore, and the global context of witchcraft beliefs.

He has written 18 books during his career which have included The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain (1996), The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present (2017) and The Making of Oliver Cromwell (2021).

He has also appeared on numerous television and radio programmes over the years, including his very own documentary series, Professor Hutton’s Curiosities in 2013. He was also one of the academic experts to be featured in the BBC’s Cunk on Britain where he held his own against the lethally disingenuous Philomena Cunk (played by Diane Morgan) on subjects ranging from Paganism, James I, and life in the Stone Age.

Professor Hutton joined the History Department at Bristol in 1981, having held a fellowship at Magdalen College, Oxford.  Since then, he has been a Commissioner and then Trustee of English Heritage and is now a member of the Historic England Conservation Committee. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2013 and in 2022 was appointed Professor of Divinity at Gresham College in London.

In October, he was appointed by Lord Mendoza, the Head of Historic England and the Government’s Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal to chair the first ever national Blue Plaques Panel, to award plaques to buildings to commemorate eminent individuals who lived there.

Knighthood for University alumnus, British Empire Medal for University member of staff and OBE for former University member of staff

Bristol alumnus, Gregory Doran (BA 1980), Artistic Director Emeritus of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has received a Knighthood in the King’s New Year Honours list.

Sir Gregory came to Bristol in 1977 to study Drama and English before training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.  He began his career with the RSC as an actor in the 1987-88 season, becoming an Assistant Director in 1989.  Sir Gregory stepped down in April 2022, after 35 years with the RSC including the last ten years as Artistic Director.

Sandy Mitchell, Bristol alumnus, emeritus member of staff and Chair of the Trustees of Lockleaze Sports Centre has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to sport in Bristol.

Mr Mitchell graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Bristol in 1962 and was subsequently awarded an MSc in Aeronautical Engineering.  In 1994, after working at Rolls-Royce for over 25 years, he took early retirement and joined the University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, in many roles such as lecturing, project supervision and as Deputy Head of Department.  He retired from the University in 2006 but continues to lecture and conduct project work.

He played rugby whilst at university for Churchill Hall and then for Bristol Saracens.  He has been involved in rugby administration in the Bristol area for almost 50 years, including for the past ten years in a project to build a sports facility in Lockleaze, Bristol and is currently President of the Bristol & District Rugby Football Combination.  

Dr Teame Mebrahtu, one of Bristol's first black magistrates, an international advocate for peaceful integration and former University academic from the School of Education has been awarded an OBE.

When his life came under threat in Ethiopia during the Mengistu regime, he applied and was granted refugee status followed by UK citizenship and came to Bristol to study for an MEd in 1972 and a PhD in 1980.  After successfully completing his doctorate, he was appointed as lecturer, rising to become a senior lecturer in the University’s Graduate School of Education, now School of Education.  For 24 years he taught and mentored students from all over the developing world, many becoming leading academics in their own countries.

His service to the Bristol community was recognised by an invitation in 1984 to become a Bristol magistrate.  

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: "On behalf of the University, I extend my warmest congratulations to Sir John, Professor Hutton, Sir Gregory, Sandy Mitchell and Dr Mebrahtu on these prestigious honours in recognition of their remarkable contributions to their respective fields.

"Their achievements exemplify the University’s core values of making a positive impact to society through the advancement of knowledge and education of future generations. They also serve as an inspiration to our academic and alumni community."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added: "The New Year’s Honours List recognises the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion. 

"To all honourees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all."