Sir Elton John has received the highest recognition in a New Year’s honor roll in which hundreds of ordinary people were recognized alongside well-known names in sport, the arts, entertainment and politics.
The singer and songwriter was awarded the Company of Honor for a remarkable career of more than five decades, in which he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, and took advantage of his fame to promote the work of 23 charities, including its own Aids Foundation. He becomes one of the 64 people apart from the monarch who can hold the honor at any time.
The musician tweeted: “I am humiliated and honored to be part of such a beloved company in receiving the Company of Honor. 2020 has turned out to be a really wonderful year for me and I feel extraordinarily blessed. ”
Another great artist on the list was Olivia Newton-John. The British-born singer, activist and actor, best known for starring in the film Grease, became a lady for charity services, cancer research and entertainment.
The list of honors, which was drawn up and approved during Theresa May’s first presidency, rewards a brilliant lineup of well-known figures from the arts and sports. But the vast majority (72%) of the 1,097 who were recognized were people working in their communities.
This year people with disabilities are better represented than for many years, with 120 people receiving awards, 11% of the total.
Among those who were to be knighted for their work in the public service were Simon Stevens, the chief executive of the NHS in England, for his 31 years in the health service, and his “vigorous public case for improving funding.” .
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, received the Grand Dame Cross of the Order of the Bath and was also recognized by several academics who worked to combat climate change. Among them was Sarah Whatmore, a professor of environment and public policy at Oxford University, who became a lady for her work in tackling the threat of flooding.
In politics, some opposition MPs criticized the chivalry of Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader and architect of universal credit while he was secretary of labor and pensions. In April, the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that universal credit disproportionately reduced income among the poorest adults.
A Labor spokesman said it was “unfortunate to see that … the main architect of the cruel universal credit system, which has pushed thousands of people into poverty”, has been rewarded.
The decision to turn Alison Saunders, the former director of prosecutors, into a woman is also likely to be controversial. He ended his five-year term as DPP in October last year, amid criticism over the collapse of several rape trials following the failure to publish prosecution evidence. A report by MPs in July 2018 accused her of not sufficiently recognizing “the extent and seriousness of disclosure failures by the police” and the Crown Prosecutor’s Office.
The honors did not recognize any of the heroic actions of the people during the recent London Bridge terrorist attack, but organizers said they were expected to be considered on future lists. More awards will be handed out early next year when the dissolution honors are published – prepared by the outgoing government before the general election.
Honors for those involved in the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy would not be considered until the conclusion of the public investigation.
The arts were well recognized, with British director Sam Mendes being knighted for his work in film and theater. Mendes, who has directed two Bond films and several international theater productions, said he was “surprised, delighted and extremely proud.”
Writer Rose Tremain became famous, as did Liberal Democrat couple and former children’s television presenter Floella Benjamin.
Artist and director Steve McQueen, who received worldwide recognition in 2014 for his Oscar-winning film 12 Years in Slave, was named Knight.
Honor list
In the world of sport, members of the World Cup-winning England team, including captain Eoin Morgan and vice-captain Ben Stokes, were recognized as prominent figures in the World Cup. women’s sport.
Playwright James Graham, also known for the film Brexit: The Uncivil War, which starred in the campaign to abandon the EU referendum led by Dominic Cummings, received an OBE for services to drama and young people in British theater after his work at the National Youth Theater.
From the world of cooking and entertainment, MBE was made to chef Ainsley Harriott and the winner of the great British Bake Off Nadiya Hussain, while food writer Nigel Slater received an OBE for cooking and literature services.
TV presenter Gok Wan said he was “excited and humiliated” to be recognized in the honors. The host of How to Look Good Naked became an MBE for fashion and social awareness services.
The youngest to receive an award was 13, while the eldest was 99-year-old Wilf Oldham of Radcliffe in Greater Manchester, a veteran of the Battle of Arnhem, who became MBE.
“Of course, I was very surprised, because it’s the last thing I ever expected,” he said. “I’m a very humble man and I feel very proud because obviously someone recommended me or put my name forward.”
D-Day veteran Harry Billinge, 94, of St Austell in Cornwall, whose fundraising efforts have been headlines around the world, became an MBE for charity services.
More than half of the awards, 51%, were for women, who were better represented than in previous years. Forty-four percent of those awarded the highest awards were women.