31 Dec 2024

UK New Year honours include football boss and London mayor

3:41 pm on 31 December 2024

British gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson celebrates on the podium after winning the women's 800m during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on 6 August, 2024.

British gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson has been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire. (Pictured after winning the women's 800m during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games). Photo: AFP/ Kirill Kudryavtsev

Former England soccer boss Gareth Southgate, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Paris Olympics gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson are among the hundreds named in King Charles' New Year honours list published on Monday, UK time.

The full list includes more than 1200 people in politics, sport, the arts or community service to be awarded honours ranging from Member, Commander or Officer of the Order of the British Empire (MBE, CBE or OBE) up to knighthoods and damehoods.

Southgate, who led England to two straight European Championship finals before stepping down as the national side's manager in July, receives a knighthood.

England's then national football coach Gareth Southgate gesticulates during the UEFA Euro final won by Spain, in Berlin, on 14 July, 2024.

England's then national football coach Gareth Southgate gesticulates during the UEFA Euro final won by Spain, in Berlin, on 14 July, 2024. Photo: AFP/ Tom Weller

Another knighthood goes to Khan, a member of Britain's governing Labour Party, who was this year elected mayor of the capital for the third time, although he has faced criticism for crime levels and a housing crisis in the city.

MI5's Ken McCallum, who has served as the domestic intelligence service's director general since 2020, was also set to receive a knighthood.

Among business executives, ex-Rolls-Royce boss Warren East and former HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn will be knighted, while Ruth Cairnie, chair of defence group Babcock, received a damehood.

Andy Street, a former boss of retailer John Lewis who failed to win re-election as a regional mayor this year, will also receive a knighthood.

Among those receiving a CBE are actors Sarah Lancashire and Carey Mulligan and TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh.

London mayor Sadiq Khan speaking in New York on 25 September, 2024.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has been knighted. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Riccardo Savi

The New Year honours, which have been awarded since at least 1890, aim to recognise not just well-known figures but people who have contributed to national life through often unsung work over many years.

Children's author Jacqueline Wilson was awarded a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, while Nobel laureate novelist Kazuo Ishiguro was given a Companion of Honour, of which there are only 65 recipients at any time.

In sport, Paris 800 metres gold medallist Hodgkinson receives an MBE while Olympic champion rower Helen Glover is recognised with an OBE.

For his work on mental health awareness, actor Stephen Fry will receive a knighthood.

British actor and comedian Stephen Fry poses on the red carpet for the film "Another End" at the Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, on 17 February, 2024.

Stephen Fry is another who has been knighted. Photo: AFP/ John MacDougall

- Reuters

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