Merseyside well-represented in Queen’s Birthday Honours list
Merseyside was once again well represented in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list – with names ranging from unsung community heroes to public figures.
Among the latter were veteran Liverpool councillor Richard Kemp, fire chief Tony McGuirk and Merseyside deputy chief constable Bernard Lawson.
The arts were also recognised, with awards made to outgoing Liverpool Biennial chief Lewis Biggs and internationally acclaimed artists The Singh Twins.
Cllr Kemp, who received a CBE for public service, has been a city councillor for 28 years and was recently elected deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group.
He has a national profile as vice-chairman of the Local Government Association.
He said: “When I heard I was to receive the honour, it was much to my surprise. I thought I had roughed up every minister over the past six years!”
Merseyside’s chief fire officer Tony McGuirk was also made a CBE for his contribution to the region and the fire and rescue service.
Mr McGuirk, who has two grown-up children, has been in the service for 35 years and is its longest-serving chief fire officer, appointed in 2002.
He said: “Over the last decade, we made sweeping changes which made people safer and healthier and communities stronger.”
Bernard Lawson, deputy chief constable of Merseyside police, is awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.
Chief constable Jon Murphy said: “Over the past 27 years, Bernard has been involved in almost every aspect of force business.”
Lewis Biggs, who is made an OBE for services to the arts, was founding director of the Liverpool Biennial contemporary art festival.
He said: “Liverpool has the best visual arts offer of any city in the UK after London.”
Artists The Singh Twins (pictured) each receive an MBE for services to the Indian miniature tradition of painting.
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The sisters, who are based in Wirral, but draw inspiration from across Merseyside, said: “It came completely out of the blue. When we first got the envelope to inform us, we thought we were being called for jury service!”
Jane Davis, founder and director of Merseyside-based charity the Reader Organisation, also receives an MBE.
After setting up her first Get Into Reading group, in Birkenhead, in 2002, the social outreach group mushroomed and there are now over 250 groups across the UK, with 200 in Merseyside.
Also receiving OBEs are: Christine McCann, former head teacher of Notre Dame Catholic college, in Everton; Susan Donnelly, JP; and James Murray, for services to people with autism.
Receiving MBEs are: Joseph Baldwin (services to health and safety in the construction industry); Charles Clapham (services to manufacture and football); Jean Cullen (services to the community in Eastham); Laurie Hough (senior executive officer, Child Support Agency); Dr Donald Lamont (HM principal specialist inspector of health and safety, civil engineering); Roger Morey (voluntary service to St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington); and Veronica Snowling, JP (services to the community in St Helens).
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