New Year honours joy
THIRTY-THREE people from the North East have received awards in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list.
They include civic leaders, charity workers, businessmen and women, musicians, members of the emergency services and academics.
Irene Lucas-Hays, one of the North East’s top business leaders, has received a damehood for her services to training, to education and to young people – and she used the award to pay tribute to staff at the business she launched with her husband 40 years ago.
Mrs Lucas-Hays is currently chair of Sunderland-based travel company Hays Travel, which she ran with her husband John, until his death earlier this year.
She had a long career in local government and has acted as chief executive of two large local authorities, with her final position in local government being in Whitehall, where she was responsible for advising ministers and secretaries of state and was directly accountable to Parliament.
Her high achievement and reputation for innovation in public administration saw her awarded a CBE in 2008.
And she has now added to her CBE with one of just 11 damehoods announced.
Having long has been a staunch advocate of apprentices, she dedicated her damehood to the apprentices and training staff at Hays Travel.
“I didn’t tell anyone, any of my family or friends – I know it’s about me, but it also isn’t really about me, it’s about all the apprentices,” she said.
“All I did was facilitate it, I saw what a great opportunity it was. This is really a tribute to the training team at Hays Travel.
“The reason why I am so passionate about apprentices and apprenticeships is that they have always, consistently, added the goods all the way through my career, and in Hays Travel.
Mrs Lucas-Hays added: “Covid has been a bitter blow. At Hays Travel we will have more apprentices starting in January, but not every business is able to do that. It is hard for the young people and my heart goes out to them – but it will come back.”
Earlier this year Mrs Lucas-Hays was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to economic development in the North East.
Another to be honoured is Newcastle City Council’s Chief Executive Pat Ritchie, who is awarded a CBE for services to Local Government and public service reform.
Pat, who has led the city council’s executive team since January 2013, dedicated her honour to the city and the work of councils across the country.
She said: “I am very proud to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours. I have spent most of my career in the public sector, most recently in local government, and could not be prouder to have done so. The important work of councils has never been in sharper focus than it is today, continuing to deliver services and supporting our residents and businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.
“Everyone who works within local government strives to improve people’s lives, to support communities and create effective partnerships with our businesses, health service and education providers.”
Pat, who is married to Brian and has a son Stuart and daughter Alice, played a leading role in securing the multi-million pound investment deal to bring Legal and General to Newcastle’s flagship Helix city quarter.
As a former chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) and former deputy chief executive of the One
North East Regional Development Agency, Pat continues to influence housing and economic policy nationally and was appointed earlier this year to chair the Government Property Agency.
She led on negotiations with the Government for the North of Tyne devolution deal and has been at the forefront of the region’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Under her leadership the council worked with health partners to develop a wraparound approach to tackling the virus in care homes and other settings to ensure the protection and support of the most vulnerable in Newcastle. She is also a non-executive director of Newcastle Hospitals Trust.
Pat stepped in to Chair the Core Cities network, steering the group in developing their collective response to the crisis.
She is influencing national thinking through the Local Economic Recovery Group led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and is joint Chair of the Recovery Coordination Group, a chief executive level forum across public services, businesses and civil society spanning the North East, to coordinate and steer the region’s recovery.
“I feel lucky to have worked with so many good and innovative people in my career, none more so than the current team at the city council,” she said.
“I feel honoured to represent and lead the great city of Newcastle and truly humbled to be recognised in this way.”
Others singled out for their hard work and dedication include:
■ Richard Ord, 66, from Whitburn, is awarded an MBE for services to the hospitality industry and regeneration in South Tyneside.
Richard, who is known for running the award-winning Colmans fish and chip shop on Ocean Road in South Shields, has helped increase visitor numbers to South Tyneside by millions through his advice and support, bringing a £305m economic benefit.
David Bailey is a Northumbrian Piper who has served the Lord Mayor of Newcastle for more than 30 years. David, 68, from Morpeth, receives a British Empire Medal for services to music.
Stephen Holmes MBE, Northumberland County Council’s former service director for adult social care, has earned a place in the New Year’s honours list with an MBE for services to adult social care in Northumberland during the pandemic.
Stephen worked for the council for almost 40 years, specialising in services for older people and people with disabilities, before leaving his post in October.
Pamela Clouston, of Rothbury, is being honoured with an MBE for services to her community.
The 70-year-old has been carrying out voluntary work for 25 years and has had a 35-year career in urban regeneration through her family company. She has been the director of Clouston Group, previously Silverlink Properties, for around 30 years.
Bradley Creswick, 64, of Whitley Bay,
is being honoured with an MBE for services to music. Mr Creswick, who retired in 2019, is one of the most highly respected orchestral leaders in the UK.
■ Sally Gallagher has dedicated her working life to protecting communities and safeguarding the environment has been given an MBE. Sally is a technical specialist in the Environment Agency’s groundwater, hydrology and contaminated land team based in Newcastle.
Darren McMahon, 51, is being awarded an MBE for voluntary service to young people in Stanley. Darren, from Stanley, has been a youth worker in the town for more than three decades and helped establish PACT House and has supported residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rob Lawson, 54, has been awarded an OBE for services to education in Sunderland. He was appointed Chair of Sunderland College in 2013 after standing down as Editor of the Sunderland Echo and Editorial Director of North East Press in 2012.
He became chair of the Education Partnership North East (EPNE) regional board on the group’s creation.
Ellen Thinnesen was appointed chief executive and principal at Sunderland College in 2016 and after both mergers became chief executive for EPNE in 2019. She has been honoured with an OBE.
Ellen chairs the NE Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) Skills Advisory Panel and is also a NELEP board member. She is a member of the Association of College’s Board and represents EPNE on other national, regional and local forums.
Sally Gallagher MBE