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30 December 2025  4 min read

Reading Rockets' Gary and Helen Johnson awarded BEM in New Year's Honours

The Berkshire club’s co-founders will each receive the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to basketball and to charity. 

The tireless duo have been stalwarts of the English basketball scene since setting up the club with son Matt and other family members in 1997. It has grown to one of the largest and most successful in the country, providing opportunities to generations of young players and forging bonds across the local community. 

Though in what they describe as ‘advancing years’, Gary and Helen’s work rate is relentless. 

“It keeps us active and young,” they said as they continue to change the lives of young people and families, calling the chance to do so ‘a privilege’. 

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives. 

"Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised."  

Basketball England CEO Nigel Walker said: “Gary and Helen are a shining example of the kind of selfless service and dedication that allows our sport to impact so many people in such a meaningful way. All at Basketball England congratulate them on their honours – they are richly deserved.” 

Gary and Helen Johnson (front) with Matt (top centre) wife Stephanie (top left) and sister Samantha (top right) 

Family matters 

Born in South Wales, Gary and Helen started ‘courting’ in 1962 when Gary was 15 and Helen 17. They married in 1968. 

Work took the couple to Reading in 1975 and, as son Matt approached 13 and decided basketball was his game, Helen diligently took him to training and games at Bracknell, 10 miles away. 

Post-university, Matt played and did school coaching in the Bournemouth area before he had ‘a vision’ to serve his hometown. Mum and Dad were asked if they could help and Reading Rockets was established in 1997 with a senior and a junior team.  

Gary and Helen worked tirelessly to serve the town they called home as the club grew to offer community sessions and National League teams. 

The Rockets now have more than 1000 children playing in community sessions each week, a development league, a junior section with 14 National League teams of all ages and both genders, wheelchair teams and SEN sessions, plus elite academy teams and links with universities.  

The senior men play in the newly formed British Championship Basketball (BCB).  

The Rockets Sport and Educational Foundation was formed in 2012, with the aim of raising money for underprivileged kids who want to play. 

‘We started the club to help change lives’ 

Matt described the family ethos behind the club and the desire to support the local community when the Johnsons were nominated for a Pride of Reading award in 2019. 

"Basketball was my love, and it was my baby, but I'm fortunate enough to have a very skilled and supportive family who have, over the years, put more into Reading Rockets than I have!" he said.

"We're a Christian family, and we started this club to help change people's lives for the better. 

"Sport was the one thing that we felt we could do to help. 

"The more people that we could give a really positive experience to, the better. The club was never born to be solely about basketball. 

"We go deeper than a sports club. We found there were a lot of kids that we had a heart to help.” 

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM), is a specific honour within the Order of the British Empire (OBE), instituted in 1917 for meritorious service, especially community-focused ‘hands-on’ work. 

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