YOU SHOULD BE DANCING!
Sir Barry and Dame Darcey lead the New Year’s honours list
POP veterans Barry Gibb and Ringo Starr joined the ranks of the showbiz knights yesterday after being recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.
The Bee Gees founder and former Beatles drummer were delighted after being rewarded for more than a century of service in the music industry between them.
Strictly Come Dancing judge and former ballerina Darcey Bussell, who was made a Dame, was also among a host of famous names allowed on a list intended to honour more community workers, volunteers and campaigners than in previous years.
The 77-year-old Sir Ringo – real name Richard Starkey, whose ennoblement had been leaked – told of his joy at recognition for the career which began in Sixties Liverpool and has branched out into charity work.
He said: “It’s great. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love.”
He becomes the second of the Fab Four to be knighted after Sir Paul McCartney.
Sir Barry, 71, dedicated his honour to his late brothers Maurice and Robin, who were fellow members of the band formed in 1958 in Australia.
He said he was “deeply honoured, humbled, and very proud” to be recognised, adding: “This is a moment in life to be treasured and never forgotten.
“The magic, the glow, and the rush will last me the rest of my life.
Honour
“I want to acknowledge how responsible my brothers are for this honour. It is as much theirs as it is mine.”
Born in the Isle of Man and raised in Manchester before moving to Australia, the brothers had chart-topping spells in the Sixties and again in the Seventies disco era.
Darcey, 48, who already has an OBE and CBE, said of her latest award for services to dance: “I am truly humbled. I gratefully accept it on behalf of all the dance organisations that I am so fortunate to be part of. Dance is such a beautiful art form, it is inspiring and provides joy, social cohesion and wellbeing.”
She studied at The Royal Ballet School from the age of 13 and went on to become the then youngest-ever principal at the Royal Ballet in 1989 aged just 20.
War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, who was knighted for services to literature and charity, said he owed his honour to Joey, the equine character at the centre of his best-selling novel.
He added: “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.”
Morpurgo, 74, whose 1982 children’s book became a hit international play and then a film, had previously received an OBE.
From the world of politics, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle was knighted for services to parliamentary and political service.
The honour comes just weeks after the 60-year-old Labour member for Chorley suffered terrible tragedy when his daughter Natalie, 28, killed herself at her home in Essex.
Cheryl Gillan, the longest serving female Tory MP, was rewarded for her services to politics with a Damehood.
The 65-year-old member for Chesham and Amersham, Bucks, is also vicepresident of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee.
Emergency service workers did feature in the list but there were no honours for those involved in the terror attacks or the Grenfell Tower fire.
However, the Cabinet Office said they are expected to be recognised in future honours lists.