Fiona Bloor and Terry Thatcher from the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) have been recognised in the New Year Honours list for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. They are among a number of armed forces personnel and civilians who have been granted state honours by His Majesty The King.
Fiona Bloor has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to geographical aspects of Law of the Sea.
After joining the UKHO in 1989, Fiona has applied her expertise across geodesy, international engagement and geospatial projects. Fiona joined the UKHO’s Law of the Sea team in 2008, where she provides specialist geographic expertise on maritime baselines, limits, zones and boundaries to support the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.
Her work spans multiple disciplines, collaborating with government partners including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Fiona has also delivered training on technical Law of the Sea and participated in international working groups.
Fiona commented:
It is an honour to be recognised for my contributions to Law of the Sea. Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to work with highly professional colleagues at the UKHO and across government, and I am proud of the work we do to provide specialist expertise to support effective spatial data for peaceful resolution and administration of maritime space. I recognise the support and mentoring that I have received from those who I have worked with over years both within UKHO and in wider fields.
Geospatial Specialist, Terry Thatcher, has been awarded an MBE for his services to defence. Working in submarine operations and support, Terry provides highly specialised geospatial expertise that supports critical submarine operations, contributing to the safety, effectiveness and success of national defence activities.
As an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, the UKHO plays a vital role in supporting UK defence, delivering trusted hydrographic data, navigational information and geospatial intelligence to inform decision making.
Terry commented:
I’m honoured to receive this recognition and to support UK defence through my role at the UKHO. Submarine operations rely on specialist expertise to inform critical decision making every day, and I’m proud to play a part in supporting the vital work of our defence partners.
Commenting on these prestigious honours, the UKHO’s Chief Executive, Vanessa Blake, said:
I’d like to extend my congratulations to Fiona and Terry on these exceptional achievements. Their recognition in the New Year Honours is richly deserved and reflects the experience, professionalism and specialist knowledge they bring to some of the UK’s most important national and international responsibilities.
View the full list of New Year Honours 2026: The Military & Civilian Divisions of the New Year Honours 2026.