Former Trust colleague Gregg Stevenson has spoken of his pride in being appointed MBE for services to rowing in the New Year Honours List for 2025.
Stevenson, from Foulridge in East Lancashire, won gold in the mixed double sculls at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris with rowing partner Lauren Rowles in only his second season in the sport, at the age of 40.
Having lost both his legs in an explosion while serving as a Royal Engineer Commando in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009, he was referred to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals' Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) for treatment, before going on to work at the centre as Lead Physical Instructor and Mental Health Practitioner.
He still makes regular trips to SMRC for support with his prosthetics - recently returning for the paediatric prosthetic patients' Christmas party at the centre.
Stevenson retired from rowing after two unbeaten seasons in the boat with Rowles, in which time they were crowned European, World and Paralympic champions, while setting four new world records, including in the heats in Paris.
He said: "This is the perfect way to sign off such a special year!
"Receiving such a special recognition is incredible, and one I’m very proud of.
"I am very fortunate to have an incredible family, friends and colleagues that support me, and I can’t thank them enough for their belief."
Having taken up rowing in 2012, Gregg was part of the trials process for the Invictus Games but decided to row with the GB Paralympic programme and linked up with GB Rowing in December 2018, training in Caversham near Reading.
After retiring from rowing, physical and mental health remains high on his agenda, as he said before Paris: “On the back of this I’ll keep banging the drum for uptake in physical activity, better diet, being mobile and improving life expectancy for people with disabilities, avoiding some of the more chronic conditions associated with long-term disabilities. The SMRC is all about that, so stand by for me coming back and banging the drum!”
Rowles, the first British rower to win three Paralympic gold medals, was also appointed OBE in the New Year Honours List.
