Titchmarsh among Yorkshire names on honours list

Alan Titchmarsh grew up in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, but now lives in Hampshire

Gardener and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh has said he is "thrilled and delighted" to have been recognised in the King's New Year Honours List

Titchmarsh, 75, who grew up in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, and now lives in Hampshire, is one of many from around the region who have been honoured for their achievements or their contribution to national life.

Leeds cyclists Tom Pidcock and Katy Marchant, who both won gold at the Paris Olympics, have been appointed OBE and MBE respectively for their services to the sport.

Sculptor Graham Ibbeson, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who created a statue of the fictional character Kes, has been appointed MBE for services to the arts.

Katy Marchant and Tom Pidcock have been honoured for services to cycling

Titchmarsh was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to horticulture and to charity.

He said finding out had been a "teary moment", adding: "I've been an MBE for 25 years, so I kind of thought that was...I've been very happy with that."

The TV presenter, who said he was in his "61st year of gardening for a living" has served as the president of Perennial, formerly the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society, since 2004.

He is also the president of the charity Plant Heritage, formerly known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG), whose patron is the King.

In the arts world, Mr Ibberson, whose work includes a memorial to those who died with Covid-19 and the unsung workers of the pandemic in Barnsley, said he was "very surprised and honoured" by the news that he had made the honours list.

"In a way, it is such a big honour that I feel guilty taking it for just being myself," he said.

"I have tried all my life to make sculpture accessible to everybody, and make myself accessible to everybody, so hopefully I got it for being myself.

"It's important to put important people who have done extraordinary things on pedestals," he said.

"Comedians like Eric Morecambe and Laurel and Hardy (who feature in his work), these people were loved by everybody."

Reverence, a bronze by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, depicts key workers alongside ordinary people affected by the pandemic

Julie Devey, who co-founded support group Killed Women after her daughter Poppy Devey Waterhouse was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at their flat in Leeds, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

She set up the group along with Carole Gould, whose daughter Ellie Gould was also murdered by her former partner, who was also appointed OBE.

The pair said a bereaved mother was "not to be messed with," as they promised to continue to "shine a light on our campaigning and will keep the many unjust issues surrounding violence against women and girls in the spotlight."

Ruth Bender Atik, from Wakefield, the former national director of The Miscarriage Association, has been appointed OBE for services to the baby loss community and bereavement care.

Julie Devey, whose daughter Poppy Devey Waterhouse (pictured) was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at their house in Leeds, promised to keep campaigning

In Bradford, Nazim Ali, the founder of the Creating Smiles Hospital Gifts Initiative has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to charity and to homeless and vulnerable people.

He said: "It just shows that you just have to keep working hard and people will join you and support you on your journey to inspire others.

"Never give up and never think you're just one individual who can't make an impact."

He added: "My story is of someone who has come from a working-class background, from poverty, who has worked really hard."

He said he never "in his wildest dreams" would have thought he would be awarded an honour.

"I'd probably have laughed at you, if you'd told me that someone like me could do it," he said.

Nazim Ali has been honoured for services to charity and to homeless and vulnerable people

Paul Caddick, of Wetherby, who through his construction and property development company Caddick Group owns Leeds Rhinos and Headingley Stadium, has been appointed OBE for services to sport.

Fiona Thompson, chair of National Lottery funded programme Keighley Big Local, and founder of Cafe Eden, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community.

She said: "I don't do what I do for honour, I do it because there are services missing in the local area.

"It's just amazing that I have been recognised for what I've done and I hope it will have an outreach and people can take the idea and use it as their own, and inspire people to support each other."

Stuart Carlton has been given a knighthood for services to children, young people and families

In North Yorkshire, Stephen Redman, 65, from York, has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the families of children with cancer.

His son Rocky died in 2001 from neuroblastoma, and in 2007 Mr Redman joined the board of trustees at Candlelighters, a charity which supports children and families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire.

He said when he received the news, he thought it was a joke.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked," he said.

"It took a couple of days to settle in and me and the wife had to keep it totally secret for almost a month.

"It is such an honour to be given this recognition of my work. I'm genuinely very grateful indeed."

One of North Yorkshire's most famous residents, former England manager Gareth Southgate, of Harrogate, has received a knighthood, making him Sir Gareth, for services to association football.

And one of North Yorkshire Council's most senior officers, Stuart Carlton, has also been knighted.

As the corporate director for the children and young people's service, Mr Carlton has been awarded the honour for his work and dedication in a career spanning 35 years.

Mr Carlton said he had been shocked but felt "extremely privileged" to be given the honour for services to children, young people and families.

He added: "I'm still in shock really, I just never expected that such a thing could happen. It's a huge honour and I feel very humbled to receive it."

Gareth Southgate, who lives in Harrogate, has been given a knightood

Christopher Maxwell, 61, from York, has been appointed MBE for services to public protection, reducing reoffending and rehabilitation.

He said: "I effectively lead and run a scheme which places people who come out of prison into temporary accommodation in the hope that it will give them some stability, so that they can find work.

"I feel very humbled to be put forward. I'm proud they feel the work I've done is worthy enough to be recognised. I suppose I also feel a sense of 'why me?' because a lot of my colleagues work hard every day to do the job and make difficult decisions.

"Any one of them could have equally been put forward."

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