New Year Honour for Mayor
THE North East’s top educators, emergency service workers and the volunteers who go above and beyond for their communities have been recognised by royalty in the New Year’s Honours List. Business leaders and politicians from the region are also among those commended on the annual list. They sit alongside internationally famous musicians, The Beatles’ Ringo Starr and Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb, who were both awarded knighthoods, as well as authors, actors and academics. This year, a total of 1,123 people were handed one of the royal awards. These include knighthoods, medals for specific services, and various levels of the Order of the British Empire (which range from CBEs – the highest honour – down to MBE). Among those on the list was Alnwickbased World War Two veteran Frank Bull, who, at 93, was one of the oldest people recognised on the national list. He received a British Empire Medal in recognition of his work with the Poppy Appeal and the Royal British Legion, as well as community work in his former home of Whitby. And Violet Atkinson was awarded a British Empire Medal for her work volunteering with Northumbria Police road safety work. Mr Bull, who worked in Bletchley Park helping to decode and transmit vital secrets during the war, said his honour came as a complete shock. “I’ve never sought any reward for what I’ve done,” he said. “This has come completely out of the blue but it’s very exciting.” Father-of-two Mr Bull said his family were “very proud” of his achievement – although some of the other recipients were more shy about informing family of their awards. Matt Boyle, former president and chief executive of Team Valley-based Sevcon, admitted not telling his close family about his OBE for a whole month, as he didn’t want to overshadow the achievement of his daughter, who was invited to an interview at Cambridge University on the same day he learned he was to be honoured. He said: “This is really in recognition of the work that many people do across the region, trying to make sure that we can maximise the skills we need in the region and to give the opportunities to youngsters to get into a lifelong career in engineering. “We build them up from an early age, talking to them when they are nine or 10 years old – so this OBE is about all of that work, so I’m delighted.”
Leaders in education also made the list – Dr Lindsey Whiterod, the chief executive of Tyne Coast College, said she was “thrilled” to be handed a CBE for her work with the college, formed last August South Tyneside College and Tyne Metropolitan College (TyneMet).
Meanwhile, Judith Doyle, principal of Gateshead College, said she was “absolutely elated” to be listed, not only for her contribution to education through the ‘outstanding’ college, but for championing the North East and helping to increase the practical skillset of its young people.
The eclectic list also includes Norma Redfearn, elected mayor of North Tyneside, who was awarded a CBE for public and community service in Tyneside.
Here’s the full list of people from our region included in this year’s batch of honours.
Please note, we can only include those whose listing includes a North East address.
CBE
Ms Josephine Catherine Boaden, chief executive, Northern Housing Consortium – for services to Housing Providers in the North of England. (Gateshead)
Ms Judith Doyle, principal and chief executive officer, Gateshead College – for services to Education and Skills in the North East. (Gateshead)
Nigel John Mills, co-founder and chairman, The Lakes Distillery – for services to Entrepreneurship in the North East and Cumbria. (Newcastle)
Ms Norma Redfearn, elected mayor of North Tyneside – for public and community service in Tyneside. (North Shields)
Ms Amanda Skelton, chief executive, Redcar and Cleveland Council – for services to the Redcar and Tees Valley Economy. (North Yorkshire)
Dr Lindsey Janet Whiterod, OBE, chief executive, South Tyneside College – for services to Education and the community in South Tyneside. (Tyne and Wear)
Nick Gerard Peter Whitfield, chief executive, Achieving for Children and Children’s Services and lately commissioner, Sunderland and Reading – for services to Children.
Ms Jacqueline De Rojas, president, techUK, former MD of Newcastle-based Sage’s Northern Europe operations – for services to International Trade in the Technology Industry.
OBE
Matthew Boyle, president and chief executive of Sevcon – for services to Engineering and Skills. (Morpeth, Northumberland)
John Strother Shallcross – for voluntary services to Young People and Youth Clubs in the North East. (Morpeth, Northumberland)
Gary Ridley, assistant chief officer, Durham Constabulary – for services to Policing. (Tyne and Wear)
Mrs Zoe Elizabeth Carr, chief executive officer, WISE Academies Multi Academy Trust – for services to Education. (Sunderland)
Mrs Judith Ann Hay, assistant director for Children and Families, North Yorkshire County Council – for services to Child Protection in North Yorkshire. (Newcastle)
Dr Stanley Derek Higgins, lately chief executive, North East Process Industry Cluster – for services to the Chemical Process Industry. (Yarm, North Yorkshire)
MBE
Mrs Anne Ellen (Annie) Barr, founder, Annie Barr Associates – for services to
Exports in Healthcare. (Prudhoe, Northumberland)
David Richard Beveridge Burn – for services to the Magistracy and the community in Hexham Northumberland.
Jeffrey Alan Coates, Social Worker and Member Adoption Support Expert Advisory Group – for services to Children. (Cramlington, Northumberland) Mrs Julie Dixon – for services to the community in Northumberland.
Hedley George Heron – for services to charity and the community in Northumberland. (Morpeth, Northumberland)
Mrs Shirley Kankowski, project manager HM Revenue and Customs – for services to State Pension Reform. (Ashington, Northumberland)
Michael Burgess – for services to Disadvantaged Young People in North Tyneside. (Witton Gilbert, Durham)
Edward Gatenby, head of residence and services HM Prison Durham – for services to HM Prison Service. (Chester-le-Street, Durham)
Mrs Michele Hodgson, formerly chair, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority – for services to Fire and Rescue. (Stanley, Durham)
Mrs Stefa Janita McManners – for services to the community in County Durham. (Bishop Auckland, Durham)
Mrs Dorothy Anne Rand – for services to local government and the community in Durham.
Christine Elizabeth Robson, watch manager, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service – for services to the Fire and Rescue Service and the community in County Durham. (Stanley, Durham) Mrs Nicola Clark, tax professional manager, HM Revenue and Customs – for services to Business and the community in the North East. (Tyne and Wear)
John Alfred Eltringham, chairman of Trustees, South Shields Sea Cadets – for voluntary service to Young People. (South Shields)
Ian Richard Harris, honorary trustee, Citizens Advice Bureau – for services to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Newcastle.
Mrs Dorothy Harriet Keane, clinical lead, E-Learning for Healthcare Image Interpretation Project, Society of Radiographers – for services to Radiography. (Sunderland)
William David Fleetwood – for services to the community in the North East of England. (Sunderland)
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL (BEM)
Mrs Violet Atkinson, road safety volunteer, Northumbria Police – for services to Road Safety Awareness and Education in Northumberland. (Sunderland)
Frank Eric Bull – for services to The Royal British Legion and the community in Whitby. (Alnwick, Northumberland)
Mrs Jean O’Hanlon, caseworker, Northumberland Branch, SSAFA armed forces charity – for voluntary service to ex-Service Personnel and to the community in Alnwick, Northumberland. (Alnwick, Northumberland)
Mrs Gertrude Ayer – for services to the community in Annfield Plain, County Durham.
Mrs Susan Clarey, office manager, St. Anne’s Church of England Primary School, Bishop Auckland – for services to Education. (Newton Aycliffe, Durham)
Alex Peter Oliver – for services to charity and the community in Durham. (Meadowfield, Durham)
Miss Joyce Taylor – for services to Durham Cathedral. (Chester-le-Street, Durham)
Mrs Doris Williams – for services to Choral Singing in the North East. (Stanley, Durham)
Mrs Mary Edith Toward – for political service in the North East of England. (Newcastle)
QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL (QPM)
Detective Chief Inspector Michael Vincent Callan, Durham Constabulary.
QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (QFSM)
Watch Manager Karen Anne Soady, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.