CRP founder Valerie, two volunteers get Order of the British Empire

Valerie Ann Taylor, founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh, along with long-time volunteers Janet Irene Varney and Roger Michael Varney, have been recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List for their exceptional contributions to supporting disadvantaged and disabled individuals in Bangladesh and the UK.

The British High Commission in Dhaka announced it on Monday, June 16, 2025. 

Valerie Taylor, previously awarded an OBE, has now been honoured with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). 

Janet Irene Varney and Roger Michael Varney have each received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

A UK-trained physiotherapist, Taylor arrived in Bangladesh in 1969 with Voluntary Service Overseas, initially working at a small mission hospital in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). 

After three years, she moved to Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka. 

In 1979, Taylor and her colleagues founded CRP with just four patients in an abandoned warehouse at the hospital. 

Today, CRP is a leading 100-bed hospital in Savar, with 12 centres across Bangladesh, widely recognised as the country’s premier institution for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. 

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said, “I am thrilled that Valerie Taylor, Janet Varney, and Roger Varney have received these prestigious awards. Their unwavering dedication and compassion have transformed countless lives, embodying the strong bond between the UK and Bangladesh.” 

Valerie Taylor expressed gratitude, saying, “This award is a wonderful opportunity to thank and congratulate the CRP staff for their 46 years of commitment to the complete rehabilitation of our patients.”