Torbay tourism and charity champion Lynne made MBE in New Year's Honours

Well–known former Torbay hotelier and tourism and charity champion Lynne Hookings has been recognised in the King’s 2025 New Year’s Honours.

Lynne, who worked tirelessly to unite and promote the English Riviera’s hospitality sector over many years and has helped to raise millions of pounds for Torbay Hospital, has been made a Member of the British Empire.

News of her MBE arrived with a letter from the Cabinet Office through the local post to her home in Torquay  three weeks ago.

She was sworn to secrecy but was lost for words when the cat was finally let out of the bag.

She said: "I really cannot believe it. I am lost for words. I just want to say a thankyou to everybody I have worked with in the tourism industry and the community. I was only trying to put something back into both."

Above: Portrait of Lynne

She has been recognised for her volunteering services in the local community as well as for her work with the Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

Ironically, Lynne is currently recovering after breaking her hip in a fall. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

She and husband Michael, who have been married for 55 years, ran a small hotel in Ottery St Mary before moving to Torquay and buying the Maycliffe Hotel in St Lukes Road North in 1975.  

Michael stayed on at the Kings and Lynne spent her time turning around what was a bankrupt business in Torquay. She and Michael used to meet 'half way' in Teignmouth once a week during those days.

The couple sold the Maycliffe in 1985 and bought the Grade Two listed Frognell Hall Hotel in Higher Woodfield Road, Torquay, converting the property dating back to 1840 into a successful 30-bed hotel.

She was a leading member of the Torbay Hospitality Association and was in charge of the restaurant themes and nights for the International Gastronomic Festival which brought famous chefs and gastro lovers from around the world to the then five-star Imperial Hotel in Torquay every two years.

Lynne was a champion of the Bay's tourism industry for many years and she was a leading player in bringing the industry together with the THA and separate associations for hotels in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

With Laurence Murrell, then boss of Torquay Leisure Hotels, she was instrumental in setting up the Tourism Opportunity Programme which saw a collaboration between hotels in Torbay, the UK and Europe including Belgium and Majorca, and South Devon College when it came to benchmarking quality standards, marketing and training. 

The project was originally planned for a two-year period but was so successful that it lasted 12 years and won a Silver Award in the England for Excellence Awards. 

The Torbay Tourism Forum followed and then Mrs Hookings chaired the English Riviera Association of Tourism for 10 years 

After 60 years working, Lynn and Michael retired to a bungalow in Ilsham, Torquay, 10 years ago. 

But by then the couple were becoming formidable volunteers and fund-raisers for the Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

Lynne was chairman of the Wellswood district of the Friends between 2005 and 2017.  During her time as chairman of the actual League between 2010 and 2012 the Friends were honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services. 

Lynne, also a Governor of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust for nine years, has helped to raise millions of pounds for Torbay Hospital and still sits on the League's committee as well as being a vice-president. 

Her mammoth fundraising efforts were recognised when she was named Fundraiser of the Year at the 2016 South Devon Community Awards

Her life-long service to tourism and the Torbay community generally was recognised in 2017 when she was made a Freeman of the Borough. 

She was presented with her commemorative scroll and badge of office by the Chairman of Torbay Council, Councillor Ray Hill ‘in recognition and appreciation of her contribution to the tourism industry within Torbay and her unceasing voluntary work for the NHS and Torbay Hospital League of Friends."

“I am absolutely delighted with the BEM and cannot believe it, “ said Lynne.

The founder of a homeless charity in Torbay was also recognised in the Honours List.

Katherine Friedrich, founder of People Assisting Torbay's Homeless (PATH), was awarded a British Empire Medal.

PATH helps people who are homeless in the Torbay area and has been running for almost ten years.

Ms Friedrich was quoted as saying: "It's bittersweet, I'm not going to lie. The work we do here in a fairer world, it shouldn't be. What we're doing day in day out is helping people who are very vulnerable who have had very incredibly sad stories.

"To get an award for doing something that is quite possibly the right thing to do, I don't know, it's a bittersweet thing. I'm accepting it on behalf of every single person who has supported PATH."

Above: Lynne with husband Michael Hookings

Steven John Wearne from Torquay was also rewarded. He is director of global affairs, Food Standards Agency and chair of Codex and was appointed OBE for services to public health protection and to international food safety.

Devon award recipients were:

• Carey Mulligan, actor, appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to drama (Exeter).
• Dr Matthew Craig Hort, principal fellow, atmospheric dispersion and air quality at the Met Office, appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to atmospheric dispersion science and emergency response (Exeter)
• Steven John Wearne, director of global affairs, Food Standards Agency and chair of Codex appointed OBE for services to public health protection and to international food safety (Torquay)
• Christopher Derrick Fulford, trustee and volunteer at the Northam Care Trust, appointed MBE for services to people with disabilities in north Devon (Bideford)
• Barbara Lesley Gardner, founder and chief executive officer of Animals Interfaith Alliance, and trustee of RSPCA appointed MBE for services to animal welfare
• Rosemary Howell Dl, appointed BEM for services to girl-guiding and the community in Devon (Ivybridge)
• Kenneth and Sarah Louise White, co-founders of Supershoes, appointed BEM for services to children and young people with paediatric cancer (Torrington)
• Katherine Friedrich, founder of People Assisting Torbay's Homeless, appointed BEM for services to tackling homelessness in Torbay (Paignton)
• Lynne  Hookings, appointed MBE for services to the community in Torquay and Torquay Hospital League of Friends (Torquay)