North Wiltshire businessman and social housing champion David Ashmore and master arrowsmith Hector Cole have been appointed MBEs in the New Year Honours list.
Mr Ashmore, pictured, a board member of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and until January 2013 chief executive of housing group Greensquare, was recognised for “services to housing in the South West of England”. 
He has spent his working life in housing – including 25 years at the helm of Chippenham-based Greensquare and, previously, its subsidiaries Oxford Citizens and Westlea housing associations.
Under his leadership Greensquare became a major housing and regeneration social enterprise owning more than 10,000 homes across Wiltshire, Swindon, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The group developed charitable and commercial subsidiaries including an in-house construction management company and a Swindon-based gas installation business.
It employs 450 staff, has a turnover of £50m and supports a range of training and employment initiatives.
Mr Ashmore, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, gained an MBA at Birmingham University in 2000. As well as sitting on the LEP board, he chairs the North Wiltshire Local Strategic Partnership and the SW Regional Committee of the National Housing Federation.
Hector Cole, a master arrowsmith and archaeological ironworker from Great Somerford, is a world-leading authority on the traditional production of forged arrowheads, the smithing techniques and skills of Saxon swordsmiths. He runs an iron-working business in nearby Little Somerford.
In addition to his historic ironwork, Mr Cole, who was recognised for services to heritage crafts, is also a silver medal holder and liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. His work can be seen in museums throughout Europe. He has also produced forge work for members of the royal family, including the gates at Prince Charles’ home Highgrove House.
A total of 1,164 people were honoured by the Queen in the New Year list, three-quarters of whom were recognised for work in their communities.
Patrick Hallgate, Western route managing director at Network Rail, received an MBE “for services to the economy in the South West”. Network Rail’s Western region covers routes from London Paddington through Swindon to the West Country and South West.
However, the honour came as Network Rail was embroiled in controversy over late-running repairs during the Christmas break which sparked chaos when commuters returned to work to find a number of stations closed.
