Wessex Internet founder awarded MBE

James Gibson Fleming (pictured left), founder of Wessex Internet, has been awarded the honour of MBE for four decades of dedicated service to charity, community and business in the King's 2025 Birthday Honours List.

Fleming’s charitable work spans three decades, beginning in 1994 when he played a pivotal role in developing Cancer Care Dorset, that provided domiciliary nurses for families affected by cancer throughout the county. During his role as Chairman, the charity merged with Joseph Weld Hospice to create the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

In his 16-year role as Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, James served as an ambassador for the county, working to attract new business and talent to the region. During a 36-year tenure as Trustee of the Talbot Village Trust he aided the transformation of the area around Bournemouth University's Talbot Campus. In 2017, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration.

James served four years in the British Army with postings in Cyprus, Germany, and Northern Ireland. Following military service, he studied at the Royal Agricultural College before building a business career including as the founder of Wessex Internet, set up due to first-hand experiences of poor rural connectivity.

Fifteen years later, the business has grown from a handful of wireless connections into a thriving enterprise spanning four counties and employing over 300 people.

He said: “The approach has always been the same - take the long view, invest in your community, and build something sustainable that will serve people for decades to come.

"Any success we have had - whether with the hospice work or building Wessex Internet - has been down to the dedication of local people who believe in serving their communities for the long term.”