New Year’s Honours 2024: Key Northern honourees

Sporting heroes, digital trailblazers and charity campaigners were among the key Northern figures recognised in this year’s New Years Honours list.

Man United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps and fellow England star Lauren Hemp, who plays her club football across town at City, were among more than 100 North West names to be honoured in this year’s new Years Honours list. Both were awarded an MBE.

Elsewhere, former rugby coach Kevin Sinfield received an OBE for his services to Motor Neurone Disease Awareness, as did Katie Gallagher, director of Manchester Digital, for services to the Digital Technology Industry in the North West.

A total of 83 people from Yorkshire and Humberside made the list this year, including Alison Fordy, proprietor, Alison Radcliffe School of Dance, who landed an MBE for services to young people and to the community in Middlesbrough and Professor Julian Daryl Richards, professor of archaeology, University of York, who picked up an OBE for services to heritage and digital archiving.

Sheffield’s Joslyn Hoyte-Smith, chair, GB Olympians Association, also landed an MBE for services to Athletics.

In broadcasting, Wirral-born Bake Off star Paul Hollywood was rewarded with an MBE, as was honorary Northerner James Whale, who made his name at Leeds’ Radio Aire, and Sky Sports’ Hartlepool native legend Jeff Stelling, all for services to broadcasting.

In education Manchester Metropolitan University director of apprenticeships Elizabeth Jane Gorb was honoured for services to Education and Skills, while TalkTalk CEO Tristia Harrison has also received a damehood for services to telecommunications and for her work encouraging women into technology.

The full list of 1,227 honourees for this year can be viewed on the government’s website.