Amaechi wants his OBE to inspire

Former NBA player John Amaechi hopes his OBE for services to basketball can inspire other British prospects.

The now retired England international – who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz – as well as leading European clubs, was also honoured for his work with troubled kids on both sides of the Atlantic. Amaechi set up a basketball centre in Manchester, worked with the Big Brothers mentoring scheme and devoted much of his time to political activities surrounding social inclusion and gay rights.

"I was once an overweight bookworm who hid in the corner of my school library and wished I was invisible," he said. "My mother told me that I could do better and I hope to use this platform to convince other young people just how true this can be for them too."