Honor Roll for the New Year
Author Jilly Cooper and actress Emilia Clarke were also honored
Singer Shirley Bassey, England goalkeeper Mary Earps, Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis and Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke are among the famous names on the New Year's honors list, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who leads the award winners for their work on the coronation of King Charles III.
Bassey, known for recording the Bond songs “Goldfinger” and “Diamonds Are Forever,” is one of the best-selling artists of all time. For her services to music, she is named Companion of Honor, one of the highest honors. She said: “My heart is full of emotions and I am truly humbled.”
Bassey becomes the 64th living member of the order, which can only have 65 members at a time. At the beginning of the year she was awarded the Order of Saint Charles by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Romance novelist Jilly Cooper receives a Damehood for her contributions to literature and charity. Rishi Sunak confessed his enjoyment of Cooper's novels earlier this year, revealing that Riders, Rivals, Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous and Appassionata were his favorite Cooper novels.
Cooper said: “I am absolutely and incredibly overwhelmed. I can’t believe I’m a DBE, which in my case also stands for Delighted, Bewildered and Ecstatic.”
Welby will be made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) for his personal services to the Crown during the coronation at Westminster Abbey in May. RVO awards are a gift from the King and are presented independently of Downing Street to individuals who have served the Monarch or the Royal Family in a personal way.
Justin Welby places the crown on the king's head during the coronation. Photo: Shutterstock
Brian Clarke is considered the first stained glass artist to be knighted. Commenting on Clarke's award, architect Norman Foster said: “I am delighted by this recognition of his many talents as an admirer, past collaborator and dear friend over many decades.” Artist Damien Hirst said it was “brilliant to have his extraordinary talent recognised became”.
Sonia Boyce, who became the first black woman to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2022, will be made a Dame for her services to art. The “Feeling Her Way” exhibition shown in Venice went on to win the event’s top prize.
Sir Ridley Scott will be awarded the Knight Grand Cross (GBE) for his services to the British film industry. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Scott has directed a number of the most respected films of the 20th century, including Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma and Louise.
King Charles and Judith Weir in June. Photo: Matt Crossick/PA
Judith Weir, the first female master of the royal music in the role's 398-year history, is made a dame. She was first appointed captain by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014.
Stuart Murphy, the late chief executive of English National Opera, will be awarded a CBE. During his tenure, the ENO offered free tickets for those under 21 and discounted tickets for those under 35 to increase the opera's appeal.
Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, is knighted for his services to music and charity. Don Black, a songwriter known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and co-writing several Bond songs, will receive a CBE for services to music.
Clarke and her mother Jennifer Clarke receive MBEs for their work advocating for people with brain injuries. The couple co-founded the charity SameYou, which works to develop better treatment to restore the mental health of brain injury survivors.
In 2011, the actor suffered a life-threatening stroke while training. They are believed to be the first mother and daughter to receive the same award in the same honor roll.
Jennifer and Emilia Clarke. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA
Clarke told the PA news agency the honor was “remarkable” and it was “life-enhancing and magical” to see her mother, who also underwent surgery to remove a brain aneurysm, also be recognized for the work.
Sajid Javid, the former chancellor and home secretary, will be knighted for his political and public service. He was the first person of British-Pakistani background to become Foreign Secretary.
In the summer of 2022, Javid and Sunak resigned from Boris Johnson's cabinet, leading to dozens more cabinet resignations and the collapse of Johnson's prime ministership. Javid ran for the leadership following Johnson's resignation but dropped out and supported Liz Truss. He has declared that he will not stand as an MP in the next general election.
Dame Margaret Beckett, the longest-serving female MP, is awarded a Grand Cross. She was the first female foreign minister. After the death of John Smith in 1994, Beckett became the first acting leader of the Labor Party.
Margaret Beckett at the 2021 Labor Party Conference. Photo: Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto/Allstar
In business, Tim Martin, founder and chairman of pub chain Wetherspoon's and leading Brexit campaigner, is being knighted for his services to hospitality and culture.
His award was welcomed by pro-Brexit campaigners including Nigel Farage, who told the Chron that Martin was a “Brexit legend” and a “larger-than-life character, an entrepreneur at his fingertips and a great companion”. Jacob Rees-Mogg said of Martin's award: “I'm really pleased to hear it.”
New Year's Awards: What the Awards Mean
Several top Conservative Party donors will also be honored. John Griffin, founder of the Addison Lee taxi company and one of the Tories' biggest donors, is knighted. Stephen Hester, chairman of easyJet and Nordea bank, will also be knighted.
Tristia Harrison, the recently departed chief executive of TalkTalk Group, and Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of Aviva, are being made ladies.
In sport, England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps receives an MBE, capping a breakthrough year for the Lioness. Last week she was named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year 2023, becoming the third woman to win the award.
Christian Horner, the managing director of Red Bull Racing, receives a CBE. Sir Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby and former captain of the England rugby team, will be awarded a Grand Cross. Ron Dennis, the founder and former CEO of sports car manufacturer McLaren, is knighted.
Felicity Dahl receives a damehood for her role in founding Roald Dahl's Marvelous Children's Charity in 1991 in memory of her husband. The charity works with the NHS to provide specialist nurses and support to seriously ill children with complex, lifelong conditions.
Maggie Aderin Pocock. Photo: Ian West/PA
In science, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the space scientist and co-host of the long-running BBC documentary The Sky at Night, becomes a dame. Earlier this year, Mattel created an Aderin-Pocock Barbie doll to celebrate International Women's Day.
Doctor and frequent government adviser Dame Carol M Black, a leading architect of the Department for Work and Pensions' heavily criticized Work Fitness Service, will be awarded a Grand Cross. Epidemiologist John Edmunds, who led Ebola research and helped control an outbreak in West Africa, will be knighted.
This is King Charles' second Honors List for the New Year. A total of 1,227 people were honored in this year's list.
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