Representatives from AutoTrader, Manchester Digital, the Co-op and a host of sporting talent were among the Northern recipients of awards in King Charles III’s debut birthday honours list at the weekend.
Alison Ross, chair of Manchester Digital’s board and chief people and operations director at AutoTrader picked up an MBE for her efforts in the region’s digital sector and said: “I have been hugely fortunate to build a rewarding career in technology and my purpose is to open that opportunity to as many people from all backgrounds in Manchester as possible. Digital is an incredible opportunity for our city, we need to work together to unlock its promise as an engine of social mobility and prosperity. I am so proud and grateful to be recognised for doing my bit alongside my incredibly committed colleagues at Manchester Digital.”
Over in Yorkshire, rugby talent rated highly on this year’s awards. Thomas Edward Halliwell, England Wheelchair Rugby League captain picked up an OBE for his services to wheelchair rugby league. Fellow wheelchair rugby athlete James Simpson landed an MBE for his efforts, as did Susan Taylor, chair, British Amateur Rugby League Association and Vice-President, Rugby Football League.
Not to be outdone, the Lancashire side of the Pennines also had its own rugby league representative, with Rugby League World Cup CEO Jonathan Dutton awarded an OBE.
Other sporting MBEs were handed to Yorkshire’s Adil Rashid for services to cricket and Leeds-based triathlete Non Rhiannydd Stanford, who actually picked up her prize for services to Triathlon in Wales.
In the North East, Teresa Chaytor artistic director of TIN Arts was among the winners, receiving an MBE for Services to the Performing Arts for People with Learning Disabilities.
Back in the North West Lloyd Thomas, The Co-op’s lead for apprenticeships and funded skills, picked up a further MBE.
As always, charity work was also widely recognised in the honours, with Camilla Anne Wood, Countess Of Halifax and president, Macmillan Cancer Support (OBE) and Zoe Holland, non-executive chair at Salford’s Frenkel Topping Group, vice-chair of the SBA – the Solicitors’ Charity, parent ambassador for Young Minds and founder of Silk Elephant, the charity she founded during the Covid pandemic (MBE), just two of the regional names rewarded for their charity work.
