Arise, Sir Covid! Top scientists are given knighthoods
‘Recognition of the importance of science’
BRITAIN’S Covid heroes are recognised in the New Year Honours today, with top gongs for Government scientific advisers Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance – and an MBE for Kate Garraway.
The scientists were among hundreds who were awarded for ‘Covid-related service’, which accounted for nearly a fifth of all those recognised.
Meanwhile TV presenter Miss Garraway, 54, received her honour for services to broadcasting after documenting husband Derek Draper’s battle with the illness.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated professionals who have worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic providing expert advice so we can keep people safe.
‘This year the Honours List rightly recognises those whose efforts have helped us deliver world-leading testing and vaccination programmes, and I am deeply grateful for their hard work.’ Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick, 61, will get an upgrade to become a knight commander of the Order of the Bath.
He was already a knight bachelor – the standard level of knighthood – after being honoured in 2019. He said last night he was ‘pleased to see so many outstanding scientists and engineers recognised’.
Chief medical officer Professor Whitty, 55, is also made a knight commander of the Order of the Bath.
His deputy, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, 57, becomes a knight bachelor.
Dr Jenny Harries, 63, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, will become a dame for services to health. Damehoods also go to NHS England vaccine deployment lead Dr Emily Lawson and Dr June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Scottish chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith and his Welsh counterpart Dr Frank Atherton were also knighted for services to public health.
The pandemic dominated the list, with 207 people honoured for services ‘during Covid-19’ and 17 specifically for ‘services to the Covid-19 response’.
Vaccine developers around the world were also rewarded in the overseas and international list for helping give Britain one of best jab rollouts on the planet.
American Pfizer chief development officer Rod MacKenzie and German BioNTech chief business and commercial officer Sean Marett are both made Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to vaccine development and distribution. Moderna chief development officer Melanie Ivarsson, who is also American, receives an OBE.
In Britain, Mohammed Aziz, Boots director of healthcare services, is awarded an OBE for providing testing for Covid.
Major supermarket chiefs were awarded for keeping supply chains running. Former Asda chief executive Roger Burnley, 55, and Co-Op chief executive Steven Murrells, 56, both received CBEs, while Morrisons supply chain manager Angela Johnson got an MBE.
Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, 72, who is made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, said this year’s honours list was a ‘recognition of the importance’ of science.
Away from the pandemic, former Labour MP Frank Field, 79, joined Sir Paul in being appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour. Lord Field of Birkenhead, who has been a politician for 40 years, said: ‘It’s a terrific privilege.’
Tory former ministers Robert Buckland and Caroline Dinenage are also in line for honours.
Ex-justice secretary Mr Buckland, who was sacked in Boris Johnson’s reshuffle in September to make way for Dominic Raab, is made a knight.
Gosport MP Miss Dinenage, who was ousted as minister of state for digital and culture, is made a dame.
Government sources insisted the honours were for their ministerial service, rather than a consolation for being sacked.
THERE are those who love to talk Britain down. But the achievements of those named in the New Year honours show what a truly extraordinary country this is.
From Covid heroes, through sporting champions, scientists, thespians and political luminaries, the list bristles with talent and quality.
Even that icon of revolutionary Trotskyism Vanessa Redgrave has graciously agreed to accept a damehood.
If that glittering array doesn’t make you proud to be British, nothing will.