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New Year Honours list highlights: From Nick Clegg to community heroes

Lucia Mee, 18, who has had three liver transplants, is the youngest person to be honoured for her services to organ donation awareness

Lucy Pasha-Robinson
Friday 29 December 2017 23:40 GMT
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Details of the knighthood of the former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Remain campaigner were the subject of early newspaper reports. His award has provoked criticism among some Brexiteers
Details of the knighthood of the former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Remain campaigner were the subject of early newspaper reports. His award has provoked criticism among some Brexiteers (Rex)

Over a thousand people, from celebrities to community heroes, have been recognised by the Queen for their services to Britain in the New Year Honours.

The Beatles’ Ringo Starr, Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb and former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg make up some of the better known faces featured on this year’s list.

While there are no honours for those involved in the response to recent terror attacks or the Grenfell Tower fire which left 71 people dead, hundreds of other community heroes occupy the 1,123 spaces, the full list of which will be published on 2 January.

::Here are some highlights from 2018’s list::

Lucia Mee

The 18-year-old from Ballycastle has had three liver transplants. She is the youngest person to be recognised with a British Empire Medal for her work raising awareness of organ donation. The student set up the Live Loudly Donate Proudly campaign in 2015, the year of her last transplant, to raise awareness of donation through education, communication and conversation.

Eric Eugène Murangwa

The former Rwandan football team captain will be recognised for services to raising awareness of the Rwandan genocide. The Tutsi was spared by Hutu soldiers when one of them recognised him in a football team photograph in 1994. He is now a genocide education and awareness campaigner and founder of two charitable initiatives – Football for Hope, Peace and Unity (FHPU), and sister organisation Survivors Tribune.

Helena Jones

The 101-year-old is the oldest woman to be recognised. She will receive the British Empire Medal for services to young people and the community in Brecon, Powys. The retired teacher learnt Welsh at the age of 90 and was the oldest person to ever compete on stage at the National Eisteddfod of Wales – the largest music and poetry festival in Europe.

Deborah Louise Brownson

The former solicitor is recognised for services to Autism Awareness. She has two young sons with Asperger syndrome and is the author of a book called He’s Not Naughty!, credited with increasing public understanding of condition. She campaigns for better autism awareness in schools and in Parliament.

Lee Coulson

The basketball coach from Aberystwyth will be honoured with a British Empire Medal for services to wheelchair basketball. He is a passionate advocate for inclusive sport and set up the wheelchair basketball section of Aberystwyth Basketball Club. He is in the process of introducing wheelchair basketball to Aberystwyth University. He also coaches the Welsh under 15’s wheelchair basketball team.

Mordaunt Cohen

The 101-year-old is the oldest man to be recognised. The lieutenant colonel, who served in Burma with 251 West African Heavy Anti-Aircraft Unit, will be honoured for services to World War Two education. He joined the Army after Jewish children arrived in his hometown of Sunderland from the Kindertransport. He felt compelled to enlist after he heard their stories.

Linda Colclough

The charity director from Bradford will be honoured for services to victims of sexual abuse in West Yorkshire. She founded Mosaic II in 2007, offering support to survivors and their families whose lives have been affected by sexual abuse. She has dedicated her life to offering therapeutic, advice and advocacy services and campaigning for awareness.

Hannah Lewis

The 80-year-old will be honoured for services to Holocaust education.As a child, she survived a Nazi extermination camp in Poland. She now lectures in schools and universities to raise awareness of the impact the Holocaust has had on the contemporary world.

Ringo Starr

The 77-year-old, whose real name is Richard Starkey, will receive a knighthood for services to music. His award comes 52 years after he received an MBE as part of the “Fab Four” and about 20 years after fellow bandmate Sir Paul McCartney was honoured.

Barry Gibb

The last surviving member of the Bee Gees will be recognised for his services to music and charity. He dedicated the honour to his late brothers and former bandmates, saying: “The magic, the glow, and the rush will last me the rest of my life.

“I want to acknowledge how responsible my brothers are for this honour. It is as much theirs as it is mine.”

Nick Clegg

Details of the knighthood of the former Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Remain campaigner were the subject of early newspaper reports. His award has provoked criticism among some Brexiteers.

Alexandra Shulman

The former British Vogue editor’s OBE will be upgraded to a CBE for her contribution to fashion journalism. She retired from the famed title in 2017. In August, she became embroiled in a spat with Naomi Campbell over her diversity record during her time as editor.

Lindsay Hoyle

The Commons Deputy Speaker will be knighted. It comes just weeks after the 60-year-old spoke of his devastation after his 28-year-old daughter was found hanged at her home in December.

Darcey Bussell

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 48, said she was “truly humbled” to become a dame for services to dance.

Michael Morpurgo

The War Horse author is knighted for services to literature and charity. The 74-year-old, who previously received an OBE, said he had Joey, the equine character from the 1982 children’s book which became a hit international play, to thank.

He said: “There was never a knight that has owed so much to his horse as this one – and in fact, we will give the knighthood to Joey and call him Sir Joey.”

Professor John Curtice

The 64-year-old political pundit, who has accurately forecast the last four general elections including Labour’s shock gains in June, receives a knighthood for services to social sciences and politics.

“Just six months ago the exit poll I led surprised everyone with a shock prediction that went on to be uncannily accurate,” he said.

“Now it is my turn to be surprised – and humbled – by the gracious decision to grant me a knighthood. It is not something I ever expected to happen.”

Wiley

Grime gets a “shout-out” on this year’s list, with Richard Cowie, aka Wiley, receiving an MBE for services to music.

The 38-year-old, who has been described as the “godfather of Grime” and a pioneer of the underground scene, said: “I’m honoured to be receiving an MBE.

“It feels like the school grade I wanted and didn’t get but now I’m finally there.”

Jilly Cooper

The author and journalist’s OBE will be upgraded to a CBE for services to literature and charity.

Hugh Laurie

The actor, who became known as one half of the comedy double act Fry and Laurie, and later for Blackadder and House, will have his OBE upgraded to a CBE for services to drama.

Marc Almond

The 60-year-old, who had hits including “Tainted Love” as one half of electric duo Soft Cell, said he was “totally excited” to be recognised with an OBE for services to arts and culture, adding: “I can’t really be a rebel any more. I think it’s time to leave it to younger people.”

Eamonn Holmes

The breakfast TV veteran, 58, who is awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting, said it was a “wonderful accolade”.

“It’s like getting a gold star for your homework – 2018 will be my 38th year as a broadcaster and I can’t think of a better way of marking that,” he said.

David Johnston

The chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation charity receives an OBE just weeks after he resigned with the rest of the board of the Government’s Social Mobility Commission in protest at the lack of progress towards a “fairer Britain”.

He is recognised for services to social mobility and education.

Heather Knight

The captain of the World Cup-winning England cricket team is awarded an OBE.

Vivian Hunt

Businesswoman who is managing partner for UK and Ireland McKinsey and Company receives a damehood for services to the economy and women in business.

Craig Mackey

The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service is recognised with a knighthood.

Chrissie Rucker

The founder of The White Company will receive an OBE for her services to retail.

Nicholas Wheeler

Ms Rucker’s husband and founder of Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts will also be recognised with an OBE for services to retail.

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