Knighthoods for Covid experts and absolutely fabulous honour for television star
RECOGNISING their leadership battling Covid-19, knighthoods go to England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and deputy CMO Professor Jonathan Van-Tam , with fellow deputy CMO Dr Jenny Harries being made a Dame.
Also recognised is chief Government scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who is elevated to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. Tobias Weller and Max Woosey, 11 and 12 years old respectively, receive British Empire Medals (BEMs) for their huge fundraising efforts during the pandemic and are among the youngest ever recipients of an honour.
The oldest person on the list is Henry Lewis , 102, honorary vice president of magician’s society The Magic Circle. He receives an MBE for services to fundraising and charitable causes.
Damehoods are given to actresses
Joanna Lumley and Vanessa Redgrave for their services to drama, entertainment and charity. Receiving an OBE is veteran soap star June Brown, with actress Cherylee Houstin receiving an MBE for services to drama and to people with disabilities.
Two Companions of Honour are awarded to veteran politician Lord (Frank) Field of Birkenhead for his lifetime of public service and Nobel prize-winning geneticist Sir Paul Nurse for his outstanding contribution to scientific research and understanding. In the world of sport, married Olympians Laura and Jason Kenny receive a damehood and knighthood in the same honours list, for services to cycling.
Altogether 78 Olympians and Paralympians have been honoured for their services to sport, including swimmer Adam Peaty (see main story) and diver Tom Daley, who receive OBEs for raising awareness
of mental health and LGBT issues respectively as well as their gold medal winning achievements at Tokyo 2020.
There is also an OBE for Hannah Mills for sailing and her continued campaigning on marine pollution and athlete Hannah Cockroft.
Other Olympians and Paralympians being honoured include a CBE for cyclist Jody Cundy, OBE for sprinter and cyclist Kadeena Cox and MBEs for boxer Lauren price, diver Matty Lee and BMX racer Bethany Shriever.
Other sports people receiving honours include Emma Radacanu who gets an MBE following her incredible US Open win and Chelsea women’s football manager Emma Hayes receives an OBE for her work promoting women’s football.
Sheila Parker, the first captain of the England Women football team, is given an MBE for services to