Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NOTE OF THANKS
The virologist, civil servant, football ace, TV fitness gurus, nurses, train driver, online quiz master & ambulance worker who did us proud in pandemic
MBE
Workout guru Joe Wicks and wife Rosie
PUBLIC servants who oversaw unprecedented transformation here during the pandemic have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
David Sterling, who recently retired as head of the NI Civil Service, found himself running Northern Ireland in the midst of Stormont’s power-sharing crisis.
He receives a knighthood today for services to Government and said he sees the “humbling ” honour as recognition of the whole organisation’s work during the turbulent three-year impasse without elected ministers in office.
The 62-year-old added he hopes the achievements of colleagues amid the Stormont stand-off and during the coronavirus pandemic has challenged the narrative that the Civil Service is “broken”.
He said: “We were determined throughout that period that we would keep the lights on, we would keep the show on the road.
“But we wanted, as far as we could, to do more than just keep things ticking over.”
St John Ambulance volunteer Adrian Petticrew told how he wants his OBE to shine a light on the work of all his colleagues during the emergency. The 53-year-old, from
Banbridge, Co Down, has been involved with the charity since he was 10, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
Lloyd Creaney and his wife Ruth, from Hillsborough in Co Down, used their graphic design skills to make face shields for Craigavon Area Hospital staff, among others.
They were shielding for health reasons and could not leave home but a crew of volunteer bikers organised deliveries.
They receive the British Empire
England footballer Marcus Rashford
Medal for services to key workers. Mr Creaney said: “We just felt like we did our bit, really.”
Others from Northern Ireland honoured today include Brian Montgomery, Metro Systems & Performance manager, who has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Public Transport during Covid-19.
And Alan Snoddy, the World Cup finals referee from Co Antrim, is made an MBE for services to football.
Meanwhile, Manchester United
HIGHER GOAL Rashford helped 1.3m poor children and England star Marcus Rashford becomes an MBE for services to vulnerable children during the crisis after shaming Boris Johnson into giving 1.3 million poor kids free school meals during the summer holidays.
The footballer’s campaign forced the Prime Minister into a humiliating U-turn so hungry youngsters could receive food over the six-week break.
Celebrating his accolade last night, Manchester-born Rashford paid tribute to his mother Melanie, saying:
Former NIO chief David Sterling
DRIVEN TO SUCCESS Metro Systems boss Brian Montgomery
“As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22.
“This is a very special moment for myself and my family but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour.
“The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over.”
Joe Wicks, 35, “The Body Coach”, whose daily PE classes streamed on Youtube kept children fit during lockdown, also becomes an MBE. He
MBE
Mr Motivator got us moving in lockdown
is honoured for helping kids keep active and mentally fit and for his charity efforts, with his workouts raising £580,000 for the NHS.
He said: “I can’t quite believe it, to receive this is just incredible.
“I’m so proud I’ve done something which helps so many people.”
The star thanked those who joined the workouts and made it a “special moment in my life”.
He said: “To all the children, the parents, the dinner ladies, the school teachers, everybody who took part in any one of my workouts, thank you for being there.”
Joe vowed to celebrate with “a nice gin and tonic” with wife Rosie, a former model, and “have a nice sitdown meal” with their two children.
“Mr Motivator” Derrick Evans, 67, who encouraged those staying at home to exercise in the shutdown,
also scoops an MBE. He said he felt “blessed” to receive the gong for services to health and fitness after creating online home exercises during the lockdown.
The star also hosted a week-long workout with actress Linda Lusardi to rai se money for Age UK ’s Emergency Coronavirus Appeal.
He said: “It is a real blessing and it is wonderful to be acknowledged.
“If only my parents were really here with me now, they would be so chuffed, but I think in spirit they are actually hovering up there and they are saying, ‘Boy, you done good’.”
The Queen authorised the delay of her traditional Birthday Honours from June so people who mobilised when their country needed them could be recognised.