A SCIENTIST involved in the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, the head of a game and wildlife conservation charity and the former chairman of Salisbury Museum are among those to be named in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Dr James McGilly, who works at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in Porton, was awarded an OBE while Joe Studholme received an MBE for services to museums and the National Trust.

Teresa Dent, the chief executive of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, was awarded a CBE for services to wildlife conservation and Richard Steel received a BEM for services to the community and to charity.

Recognised by his international peers as a world-class expert in chemical arms control, Dr McGill, who lives in Salisbury, is a key member of the UK delegation to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and played a vital role in the international community’s work to verify the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

He has worked for Dstl and its predecessors for more than 20 years.

Mrs Dent was appointed chief executive of the Hampshire-based Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) in 2001 and has helped the charity take a more prominent role in national conservation policy.

From a farming background, Mrs Dent lives in Salisbury and is also a board member of Natural England.

Ian Coghill, chairman of the GWCT's Trustees said of the award, "Everyone at GWCT is delighted at this recognition. Teresa's calm determination to do the right thing at whatever the personal cost has set an example that few can follow. Some of the truths she has told have not been universally welcome but her diplomacy and perseverance have more often than not won the day. The world would be a much poorer place without Teresa and GWCT and Britain's wildlife have much to thank her for."

Mr Studholme, who lives in the Woodford Valley, was chairman of Salisbury Museum up until last year. He was the driving force behind the new £2.4 million Wessex Gallery of Archaeology and also oversaw a major regeneration of the exhibitions programme helping to put the museum firmly on the heritage map.

For ten years he was also the chairman of the Wessex Region of the National Trust.

Mr Steel, who lives in Whiteparish. is chairman of the funeral directors, Richard Steel & Partners in Winchester, and has spent many years involved in charitable projects. He is chairman of the St John's Winchester charity, which provides sheltered almshouse accommodation, day care and residential and nursing care for needy older people.

He is a former president of the Winchester Division of St John’s Ambulance, a position he held for 20 years, following in his father's steps and when he stepped down 18 months ago, his son Iain took over from him. 

He is also chairman of the Winchester Working Men’s Housing Society.