Randy Horton, a former Speaker of the House, has been appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours for his service to sport and public service on the island.

Mr Horton was joined on the honours list by Ercinda “Cindy” Swan and Cecille Snaith-Simmons, who were named recipients of the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour.

Ms Swan was recognised for her services to seniors and the physically challenged while Ms Snaith-Simmons was recognised for her services to culture.

Mr Horton, a former Speaker of the House, served as an MP for the Progressive Labour Party from 1998 until 2017, representing Southampton West.

During his time in the House, Mr Horton also served as Minister without Portfolio, Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, and Minister of Education.

He studied at Culham College in Oxfordshire, England, and Rutgers University and served as principal of Warwick Secondary School for ten years.

He also made a name for himself as a sportsman, playing football and cricket — including stints with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League and being captain of the Somerset Cup Match team.

Mr Horton was named the 1971 Rookie of the Year for the New York Cosmos, the 1972 MVP of the North American Soccer League and was nominated for the United States Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.

Ms Swan, together with the late Judith Stewart, founded the charity Project Action to offer free transportation for seniors and the physically challenged.

Over the past 24 years, she has organised numerous fundraising drives and raised millions through corporate and individual donations to ensure that the community service offered by the charity was able to continue.

Ms Snaith-Simmons has dedicated herself to telling stories of unsung heroes and community figures from Bermuda’s past in columns published in the media to preserve and expand Bermuda’s written and oral history.

Her work has been praised for enhancing the island’s cultural awareness.