Each year for her birthday and at the end of the year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II releases a list of British citizens she deems worthy of being honoured for the contributions of merit, service, and bravery. Those honours ranges from the Member of the Order of the British Empire to Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Knighthood.
By NASA/Bill Ingalls – http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/queen_egress_8.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2694860
The list for the end of 2017 includes two new additions to the list of musical knights with a second Beatle and a Bee Gee.
By Jean Fortunet – File:20110626 102 All-Starr-Band-in-Paris Ringo-Starr WP.jpg ; [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32474761
By AVRO – Beeld En Geluid Wiki – Gallerie: Toppop 1973, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17822479
Beatle’s drummer Ringo Starr will henceforth be known as Sir Ringo and the lone survivor of the Bee Gees Barry Gibb will also receive knighthood.
The road to knighthood is a long one that begins with a suggestion from the public and travels through a special committee and the Prime Minister’s office before arriving at Buckingham Palace for the Queen bestows the honour.
This year numerous citizens were presented with Honours but only four members of the artistic world have been bestowed with the honour of knighthood. Along with Ringo and Gibb, children’s author Michael Morpurgo – author of “War Horse” – and British politician and European Union advocate Nick Clegg will also be knighted next year.
In the female equivalent of knighthood, former ballet dancer and current judge on “Strictly Come Dancing” Darcey Russell will carry the title of Dame.
Also receiving Honours from the Queen are:
the “godfather of grime” Wiley with an MBE
Soft Cell singer March Amond with an OBE
Broadcaster and writer Melvyn Bragg with the special honour of Companion of Honour
Author and historian Lady Antonia Fraser also with the Companion of Honour
Deep Mind co-founder and CEO Dennis Hassabis with a CBE
Chemist and the first feale British astronaut Helen Shaman with the Order of ST. Michael nad St. George
Scientist and Professor Pratibha Gai was given Damehood
Volcanologist and Professor Robert Sparks was knighted
Cardiff University deputy vice-chancellor Karen Holford received an OBE
Sir Keith Peters was awared the title of Knight Grand Cross
University Hospitals of Morecaba Bay NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Jackie Daniel received Damehood
Orthopaedic surgeon Clare Marx received Damehood
University of Liverpool vice-chancellor Janet Beer received Damehood
Female cricketer Heather Knight was awarded an OBE
Female Cricket coach Mark Robinson was awarded an OBE
female cricketer Anya Shrubsole was awarded an MBE
Female cricketer Tammy Beaumont was awarded an MBE
Women’s cricket board director for The England and Wales Cricket Clare Connor was awarded a CBE
Captain for The British and Irish Lions Sam Warburton was awarded an OBE
Former Scotland rugby union captain Ian McLauchlan was awarded an OBE
Rugby Union referee Ed Morrison was awarded an OBE
Paralympian Stef Reid was awarded an MBE
Former Manchester United youth team coach Eric Harrison was awarded an MBE
Welsh cycling coach Alan Davies was awarded an MBE
Scotland and Lions team doctor James Robson was awarded an MBE
International Ski Federation secretary general Sarah Lewis received an OBE
The Queen’s racehorses trainer Nicky Henderson was awarded a Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant
British businessman En Olisa was awarded a Knight’s Bachelor
Married couple and retailers Chrissie Rucker and Nick Wheeler were awarded an OBE each
Businesswoman Vivian Hunt received Damehood
Restauranteur Raja Adil was awarded an OBE
Orkeny resident 94 year old Margaret Jamieson was awarded a British Empire medal for her chairty work
Cornwall Conservative councillor Geoffrey Evans was awarded an MBE for his service
Beacon resident 101 year old Helena Jones was awarded a British Empire medal for her service to young people
The youngest person on the list, 18 year old transplant recipient Lucia Mee was awarded a British Empire medal for raising awareness for organ donations.
Burnley resident Afrasiab Anwar was awarded an MBE for his service to the interfaith organisation Building Bridges
Midwife Sara Fitzsimmons was awarded an MBE for her charitable work