Kenelm Robert, Head of Customer Relations at the Southbank Centre, awarded an MBE for his services to the arts. Courtesy the Southbank Centre

The New Years Honours list awarded a number of prestigious titles to those who have served the arts, heritage and culture.

One of few to be given the prestigious DBE title for her services to the arts was Dr Rosalind Savill, director of the Wallace Collection and a Trustee of the Campaign for Museums, who was previously awarded the CBE.

Kenelm Robert, head of customer relations at the Southbank Centre was awarded an MBE for his services to the arts.

He joined the centre in 1972, working in the country’s largest manual box office serving customers for long hours and walking miles up and down the Royal Festival Hall's huge ticket racks.

He played a key role in the computerisation of the ticketing system in 1983 and masterminded the seamless transition of ticketing services when the organisation transferred from GLC to Arts Council management in 1986.

Michael Lynch, Chief executive of the Southbank centre said: “Kenelm has done more than just about anyone, past or present, to promote the best values of the organisation and to make visitors, patrons and staff alike feel at home.”

The National Coal Mining Museum was also delighted when its former Deputy Director and mine manager Erwin Bottomley was awarded an MBE.

He joined the museum in 1986 and was responsible for planning the underground roadways and displays at the museum, and for recruiting and training guides to take the public around the museum when it opened in 1988.

The director of the museum, Dr Margaret Faull said: “He supported me in taking the museum through some very difficult periods when the very survival of the museum was in doubt and his dedication was shown by the fact that he came out of his much enjoyed retirement to help the museum.

“There is nobody at the museum more worthy to receive an MBE than Erwin and we are all delighted for him.”

Erwin Bottomley (left) at his farewell event at the National Coalmining Museum with Albert Barlow, former NUM delegate at Caphouse Colliery and former Mayor of Wakefield. (© NCMME)

Further recipients of the New Years Honours are listed below:

CBE

James Felton Somers Hervey-Bathurst, formerly president of Historic Houses Association, for services to Heritage.

MBE

Harold Alderman, boxing historian, services to sporting heritage.

Mrs Dorothy Mary Bell, serving the heritage centre in Bellingham, Northumberland.
James Walter Butler, sculptor, for services to art.
Mrs Sarah Chester, services to the arts.
Mrs Wendy Cooling, co-founder of the Bookstart Project, services to children's literacy.
Ms Patricia Astley-Cooper, curator of Wandsworth Museum, for services to heritage in south west London.
Peter Daniel Cormack, formerly curator at the William Morris Gallery, for services to arts and heritage.
Miss Catherine Anne Townsend Storrs Cullis, for services to ecclesiastical heritage.
Samuel Rowland Evans, voluntary service to vintage agricultural machinary.
Gerald Halpin, voluntary service to arts and charity in Chorley, Lancs.
Raymond Francis Hemmett, formerly senior conservator, painting, Historic Scotland Conservation Centre.
Mrs Davida Ann Lewis, voluntary service to music and culture in Wales.
Samuel Hamilton Miller, services to motorcycle heritage.
Brian Mummery, hon curator Immingham Museum, voluntary service to heritage in Lincolnshire.
Mrs Alexandra Murray, designer, fashion and textiles in scotland.
Robert John Parsons, herald painter, College of Arms, for services to the arts.
Major John William Joseph Paton, volutary service to heritage in Scotland and overseas.
Thomas Harley Sherlock, for services to architecture conservation and to the community in Islington London.
Raymond John Smith, formerly Senior Carpenter, St. Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff, for services to Welsh Heritage.
Alan Godfrey Swerdlow, for services to the Arts and to the communities in Liverpool and Suffolk.

OBE

Peter James Rankin, Legal Adviser, Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust, for voluntary services to Heritage in Northern Ireland.