PANDEMIC HEROES RASHFORD AND WICKS RECEIVE AWARDS IN BIRTHDAY HONOURS
COVID-19 heroes dominate the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year - from famous faces such as Marcus Rashford and Joe Wicks to hundreds of key workers who have helped with Britain’s fight against coronavirus.
This year’s list was postponed from June in order to include people such as medical workers, fundraisers and volunteers, who have been instrumental in the Covid-19 effort.
Among them is footballer Marcus Rashford, who has been made an MBE after his heroic efforts in ensuring children in need received meals across the summer during the pandemic.
His campaign forced the Government to make a U-turn over its free school meals provision and now he is being honoured for services to vulnerable children in the UK during Covid-19
He said: “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.”
Body coach Mr Wicks is also being made an MBE for helping children keep active and mentally fit during lockdown with his online PE lessons.
Derrick Evans, more commonly known as Mr Motivator, has been made an MBE after creating online home exercises during lockdown. Earlier this week, news leaked of damehoods for former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry and veteran actress Maureen Lipman, best known for her roles in BT adverts in the 1980s and currently in Coronation Street.
Phil Redmond, the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, has been knighted for services to broadcasting and arts, while writer and director Sally Wainwright, who has been behind some of biggest television dramas in recent years, including Gentleman Jack, is made OBE.
For services to music, British rapper Dizzee Rascal has been been made an MBE, while hip hop duo Krept and Konan are awarded the BEM.
In the entertainment industry, soap star and singer Mica Paris, who recently joined the cast of Eastenders, is being made an MBE for services to music, entertainment and charity.
There are knighthoods for Tommy Steele, dubbed Britain’s “first rock n roll star”, for services to entertainment and charity, and actor David Suchet for services to drama and charity.
There are CBES for the University of Manchester’s Professor Brian Cox, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, actor Adrian Lester and singersongwriter Joan Armatrading.
In total, 1,495 honours make up this year’s list, with health and social care workers making up 14 per cent while 13 per cent of recipients are from a minority ethnic background.