Three names of special local interest were included in the New Year honours list.

Mr Thomas G B Cocks, the Clerk of the House of Commons, who is to be made K.C.B, is a native of Northam, and son of the late Mr J H Cocks, of Reed House, an Appledore shipbuilder.
Col (Acting Brigadier) John Richards, Royal Marines, who is appointed C.B.E, came to live in the Torridge area when he was chief instructor, for several years in the early post-war period, at the Officers’ School white it was at Bickleigh and Plymouth.
Major Nigel Speller, who was in command of 18 Company, RASC (Amphibious), Fremington, until last September, is appointed M.B.E.
The full Gazette article is dated 4 January 1963