A high note for the unsung heroes

A HOST of unsung heroes have joined prominent figures from the region to receive accolades in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley CouncilSteve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council
Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council

Charity volunteers and community champions rub shoulders with politicians and leading business figures from the region, as all are recognised for their outstanding contributions.

Among them is Brenda Mackfall who, for more than 50 years, has brightened up the lives of people with her love of singing.

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Now the nursing home entertainer, of Stamford Bridge, near York, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to older people.

Coun Stephen Houghton, the Labour leader of Barnsley Council since 1996, said he was “privileged and proud” to be awarded a knighthood for parliamentary and political services, following a CBE in 2004.

He said: “For me it is as much recognition of all we are doing in Barnsley as it is anything I have achieved.

“I want to thank those who nominated me and those who gave the honour, but above all thank all those people I have worked with in Barnsley and local government over many years who have helped to make this possible.”

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Chocolat author Joanne Harris, made an MBE for services to literature, said she hoped the honour gave people the message that “writing is important”.

The Barnsley-born novelist, who worked as a teacher before turning to writing full time, said she had not given much thought yet to her visit to the palace to accept the award, saying: “I’m only at the ‘Shall I buy a hat?’ stage.”

The 48-year-old, who is married with one daughter and lives in Huddersfield, said: “It is always nice for the world of literature when writers get an acknowledgement or an honour.

“It gets the message to people that writing is important and that it deserves praise.”

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Her books have been published in more than 40 countries and topped the best-seller lists after the 1999 publication of Chocolat. She has written more than 15 books and is also the co-author of two cookbooks.

Prof Hermione Lee, president of Wolfson College, Oxford, and Professor of English Literature at Oxford University, and formerly a professor at York University for 20 years, is made a dame for services to literary scholarship.

She is joined in receiving a DBE by nurse Prof Nicky Cullum, of Leeds, formerly at York University where she was head of research in health sciences, and now professor of nursing at Manchester University, for services to nursing research and wound care.

Linda Pollard, who is chairman of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust among a host of other current and former roles in the business, legal, health and education sectors in Yorkshire, is made a CBE for services to business and the community in the region.

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She said: “When I was awarded the OBE in 2004 that came as a complete surprise and I certainly wasn’t expecting that to be followed up with a CBE a few years later.

“I understand that is quite a rare occurrence and I feel doubly honoured to be singled out in this way.”

Richard Mantle, the long-standing general manager of Leeds-based Opera North, is awarded an OBE for his services to music.

Vice chairman Clive Lloyd said: “This honour serves as a wonderful recognition of his terrific leadership over the past 19 years, which has ensured that Opera North can continue to be an ambitious and innovative national company.

“How apt that we can celebrate this momentous occasion with the opening night of Siegfried at Leeds Town Hall this evening.”