University honorary degree recipient given British Empire Medal in New Year Honours

A life-changing athletics coach from Portsmouth has received the British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours for her services to sport.

Bronwin Carter’s athletic career spans over 50 years in track and field. As coach for the City of Portsmouth Athletics Club for over 30 years, Bronwin worked with more than 20 javelin throwers, 15 shot-putters and 6 para-athletes.

Her coaching has helped develop 7 international athletes and 3 Paralympian athletes (2004 and 2008), including the European shot-put record holder in the f40 (dwarf) category.

While working for the University of Portsmouth, Bronwin developed weightlifting techniques which she used in her training for all university sports. 

She also acted as a disability sports coach for Portsmouth City Council for 8 years, taking all special needs pupils to Hampshire Isle of Wight Games until 2013. While in this role, she dramatically increased participation.   

An accomplished competitor in her own right, Bronwin is a nationally recognised coach for shot put, javelin and discus. Her own sporting achievements include 13x World Weightlifting Champion and 11x European Champion.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Portsmouth in 2010, in recognition of her work coaching disabled students in both mainstream and special schools, encouraging them to participate in sport and enter competitions.

Reacting to the New Year medal, she said: "Thank you to the University for the support of not just me, but my athletes as well who are at the University and use the facilities in tandem with my coaching. I am also grateful for the close tie I have as an honorary doctorate and the staff I have worked with."

The King’s New Year Honours List includes recipients who have made exceptional contributions to their local communities and the country as a whole. It is decided by a committee, who pass on their recommendations to the Prime Minister and then to the King, who awards the honour.

This year, 192 people in the south east received honours, which is over 14 per cent of the total number of recipients. The south east receives the second highest number of honours in the UK, second to London.

A full list of the 2024 New Year Honours can be found here.