New Year Honours 2024: Stained glass artist given knighthood

A stained glass artist is being given a knighthood in the King's New Year's Honour List

Stained glass artist Brian Clarke has said he is "feeling very surprised and grateful" at being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Brian Clarke, 70, from Oldham, is being honoured for his services to art in a career which spanned more than 50 years.

He said his art was for the working class and was "intended to beautify the corners of the world it occupies".

"I feel so grateful that my life's work has been noticed," he said.

Mr Clarke's work has appeared in landmarks worldwide including the Al Faisaliyah Center in Riyadh, the Royal Mosque of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and the 14-metre-high, stained glass pavilion, The Stamford Cone in Connecticut.

'Work hard'

Last year, he designed and created a series of large stained glass windows for the Brian Clarke Church of England Academy, a secondary school in Oldham, which is named after him.

He said being honoured for his work was "more than I could have imagined".

"Anything like this, of course, will contribute to supporting the continuation of what is a unique and special part of our visual arts culture," he added.

Chief Executive of Manchester City Council Joanne Rooney becomes a CBE

"I am working class by birth and by inclination," Mr Clarke said.

"My art is for the working class and my public art in stained glass is intended to beautify the corners of the world it occupies."

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Manchester City Council has been appointed CBE for services to local government.

Joanne Roney, who became the city's first female chief executive in 2017, said she was "delighted" to receive the honour and "humbled" that someone had taken the time to nominate her.

"I am genuinely surprised but also delighted to receive this honour for something I am so passionate about."

She added: "Leaving school at 16, I would never have imagined this at all.

"I hope that young people might see this and take some inspiration that you can have a great career if you work hard, stay true to your values and love what you do."

Manchester College's former Deputy Principal, Christine Kenyon, becomes an MBE

Manchester College's former Deputy Principal, Christine Kenyon, becomes an MBE for services to further education.

Ms Kenyon, who said she felt "humbled and proud" by the honour, began her career at Blackpool and The Fylde College in 1989 while also running a mobile hairdressing business.

She joined The Manchester College as vice principal in 2014 and was promoted to deputy principal in 2019.

"Further education is a door that is always open to everybody regardless of their starting point," she said.

"My career started with a course at my local further education college and I am a testament to the positive impact that a further education can have on your career aspirations."