LONDON (Reuters) – England women’s goalkeeper Mary Earps, Glastonbury music festival founder Michael Eavis, and the widow of children’s author Roald Dahl were among the hundreds of individuals recognized by Britain in King Charles’ New Year honours list.
The trio, along with over 1,200 others, were honored for their community services, as well as their contributions to health, sport, and the arts, according to the government’s announcement on Friday.
Earps, 30, played a crucial role in England’s journey to the World Cup final earlier this year in Australia and was awarded an MBE, or Member of the Order of the British Empire, for her outstanding performance in the tournament.
In recognition of his services to music and charity, Eavis, who initiated the iconic Glastonbury festival on his farm in southwest England in 1970, was knighted.
Felicity Dahl, the widow of Roald Dahl, was awarded a damehood for her work in establishing a children’s charity in memory of her husband, Roald Dahl.
The New Year’s honours, which have been bestowed since the time of Queen Victoria, are intended to acknowledge not just well-known individuals but also those who have made significant contributions to national life through their often unrecognized efforts over many years.
Sarah Graham, who leads a community group that is hosting Ukrainian refugees in southern England, was presented with an MBE, while nine-year-old Tony Hudgell received a BEM, or British Empire Medal, for his services to the prevention of child abuse.
Pop singer Leona Lewis was honored with an OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for her contributions to music and philanthropy, and legendary singer Shirley Bassey, who is already a dame, was appointed a member of the Order of the Companion of Honour.
British-born national security expert Fiona Hill, who served as a former adviser to then-U.S. President Donald Trump and testified in his impeachment inquiry in 2019, was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her “exceptional and sustained career contributions.”
(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by William Maclean)
