Four people from Wrexham have received recognition in the King’s New Year Honours 2026. Among them is a recovery advocate King’s Honours recipient whose remarkable journey demonstrates the transformative power of overcoming addiction.

Marcus Fair: From Addiction to Advocacy

Marcus Fair has received an MBE for his work in addiction recovery, tackling homelessness, and supporting ex-offenders. The Eternal Media founder overcame a 25-year addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. He also survived periods of homelessness and multiple prison sentences before establishing his charity in 2015.

“As I opened the letter and saw ‘Cabinet Office’ at the top, my hands started to shake,” Mr Fair said. “It was a surreal and humbling moment. I’m deeply grateful to the people who never gave up on me and helped me into recovery.”

Eternal Media offers support, education, volunteering, and training in filmmaking and media. All UK prisons now use the charity’s content. Organisations worldwide also utilise their resources. This provides crucial addiction recovery recognition for those rebuilding their lives.

“People in recovery are a minority,” he explained. “Support is still heavily weighted towards addiction. That gap is why I set up Eternal. I’m so incredibly proud that they gave Recovery an MBE.”

Other Wrexham Recipients

Suzanne Nantcurvis received an MBE for her decades of charity service. The former Ysgol Dinas Bran teacher chairs Wrexham Foodbank. She also works with Citizens Advice and the Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration. In 2026, she plans to launch Defending Dignity. This new project will collect toiletries for those in need.

Ffion Lucy Mitchell-Langford, 29, earned a BEM for her services to marine conservation in North Wales. She leads the Marine Conservation Society’s Hiraeth Yn Y Môr project. She secured over £240,000 for the UK’s first community-led ocean literacy project.

Ronald William Pearson, 78, received a BEM for 63 years of service to Gwersyllt Park Cricket Club. His dedication has built a social hub for over 3,000 residents. He has supported disability cricket, women’s teams, and youth programmes throughout his tenure.

A Message of Hope

The recovery advocate King’s Honours recipient sends a powerful message. People who overcome addiction can create lasting positive change. Marcus Fair’s addiction recovery recognition through the King’s Honours validates recovery-focused services. It demonstrates their critical importance to communities.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain. These are people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”

The four Wrexham recipients represent service across multiple areas. These include addiction recovery, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, and sports development. Their dedication at the local level strengthens communities nationwide.

Source: dbrecoveryresources