Actress Barbara Windsor, champion jockey AP McCoy and television presenter Sue Barker are just some of the people who have made it onto the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list 2016.
Barbara Windsor, 78, has been made a dame for her services to charity and entertainment. She is best known for playing domineering landlady Peggy Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders.
One of the most famous names in sport, 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy has also been recognised in the New Year’s Honours and will be given a knighthood for his services to horse racing.
This year, 1,196 people from all walks of life have made it onto the list. They have all been nominated for awards because of the good they have done in the community, charity or their area of work.
Over three quarters of the total recipients in this year’s list compromise of people who have undertaken work in their local community.
Dame Barbara said she is “proud and extremely humbled” about her honour.
She continued: “For a girl from the East End born into a working-class family and an evacuee during World War Two, this is truly like a dream.”
Dame Barbara Windsor and Sir AP McCoy are two of the most recognised faces on this year’s list (Photo credits: Paul & Garry Knight via Flickr)
AP McCcoy, who won a lifetime achievement award at the Sports Personality of The Year Awards ceremony also spoke of the honour.
He said: “It’s right up there that’s for sure. I was very humbled when I heard the news – I never thought it was something that would ever happen to me.
“I’m very proud of it. I think it is great for myself but also great for the game of racing.”
Actor Idris Elba is another famous recipient on this year’s list receiving an OBE; as has two-time British Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
Actor James Nesbitt will also be awarded with an OBE for services to Northern Ireland and to acting. Nesbitt is a patron of Wave Trauma Centre, a charity which supports people bereaved, and injured during the years of violence in Northern Ireland.
Actors Idris Elba and James Nesbitt will both receive OBEs (Photo credits: HRWLondon & Beacon via Flickr CC)
He said: “I’ve been very blessed with my work and very blessed to come from Northern Ireland and for those two things to be on the citation was really rather gratifying.”
Other worthy recipients include Doctor Michael Jacobs, who treated three Britons who contracted Ebola, including Pauline Cafferkey. Dr Jacobs now becomes a Sir in recognition for services to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
Dr Jacobs said: “It is the nature of honours systems that they recognise individuals, but this truly was a team effort and I can’t praise too highly my exceptional, dedicated and skilful colleagues at the Royal Free.”
Some famous women to receive honours this year include sports presenter and former tennis player Sue Barker, who will be awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity The first female presenter of Match of the Day, Jacqui Oatley, is made an MBE.
Other sporting honours include the recognition of England’s women footballers who finished in 3rd place at the World Cup in Canada earlier in 2015.
The Lionesses’ captain, Steph Houghton and team-mate Fara Williams, will both be receiving MBEs. Football Association director Heather Rabbatts will also become a Dame for services to football and equality.
From the world of politics, Conservative election strategist Lynton Crosby and former energy secretary Ed Davey will be knighted in the New Year.
Sir Tim Farron and Dame Rosie Winterton (Photos: Liberal Democrats via Flickr & Department for Health via Wikimedia Commons CC
Labour’s Chief Whip, Rosie Winterton, becomes one of the 15 women to become a dame in this year’s list.
The youngest recipient on this year’s list is Jonjo Heuerman, who at the age of 13 receives a British Empire Medal after he raised £250,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund at Cancer Research UK. In contrast to Jonjo, the oldest recipient is Dorothy Start, who at the age of 99, also receives a British Empire Medal in recognition of more than 50 years of community work.
Members of the royal households and The Queen’s staff have also made it onto the honours list. Her Majesty’s dress maker, Stewart Parvin, has become a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, as has The Queen’s page, Barry Mitford.
David Pogson, The Duke of York’s Communications Secretary has been made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order alongside Dr Richard Staughton, a consultant dermatologist.
Unlike other awards, The Royal Victorian Order is awarded to people who have served The Queen and she herself chooses who the recipients should be, not her government.
You can see the full list of people receiving New Years Honours by clicking here
Happy New Year.