The minister and priest jointly hosted the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh which marked the first time the British monarch stepped inside a Catholic church on the island of Ireland

A Co Fermanagh Church of Ireland minister and Catholic priest whose churches Queen Elizabeth took an historic walk between in 2012 have been recognised by the King.

Dean of Enniskillen Rev Kenneth Hall and Father Peter O’Reilly jointly hosted the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh which marked the first time the British monarch stepped inside a Catholic church on the island of Ireland.

The clerics have built on the historic moment, hosting joint services between St Macartin’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church in Enniskillen in contrast to Northern Ireland’s long battle with sectarian division.

Now, they are both being made OBE for services to reconciliation and peace-building, but insist the honour belongs to more than them.

They also visited Buckingham Palace together in October 2012 and Windsor Castle in 2014, for the first state reception for an Irish president in England since Irish independence in 1921.

The clerics continue to facilitate shared services between their churches, with the congregation being invited to cross the street to conclude the service in the other location.

In a joint statement, they said while their names appear in the King’s Birthday Honours citation, they regard the recognition as “belonging to many people across our community who, over many years, have chosen friendship over suspicion, encounter over separation and hope over fear”.

“One of the enduring images of our shared journey has been the simple act of crossing the street between St Macartin’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church,” they said.

“For us, that has come to symbolise something important: recognising what connects us as well as what distinguishes us.

“We are grateful for the privilege of serving this community and we thank all those who have walked that journey with us and before us.”

Rev Hall and Fr O’Reilly said their immediate reaction to the news of the honour from the King was “gratitude”.

But they reiterated the honour belongs to more than them, describing peace as “never the work of two individuals alone”.

“It is always the work of a community,” they said.

They said they have been privileged to share in many significant occasions together, including the visit of the Queen in 2012, and that of former Irish president Michael D Higgins to Enniskillen in 2015 when he also went into both churches.

The clerics said while those visits attracted international attention, others were smaller and quieter.

“Yet often it is the smaller things that matter most: shared services, community gatherings, remembrance events, youth initiatives and ordinary acts of neighbourliness,” they said.

“One image has come to symbolise much of our shared journey. St Macartin’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church stand on either side of the main street in Enniskillen.

“People sometimes describe them as being on opposite sides of the street. We have rarely thought of them that way.

“For us, the street is not simply what separates; it is also what connects. It is where people meet, build relationships and share community life.

“That understanding has shaped much of our thinking. We have often said that unity does not have to mean uniformity.

“Reconciliation does not require people to surrender their identity. Together, it invites us to respect one another, honour our differences and work together for the common good.”

Looking back over their journey, Rev Hall and Fr O’Reilly said much of their work has not been about creating a new reality but about “recognising one that already exists”.

“The people of Enniskillen and County Fermanagh already share the same place, the same concerns and, ultimately, the same future,” they said.

“Our role has simply been to encourage and give visibility to the goodwill, neighbourliness and friendship that already exist within this community.”

They added: “Peace does not happen accidentally. It grows through relationships, trust and countless ordinary acts of kindness that rarely attract public attention.

“If this honour means anything, we hope it serves as recognition of all those people across Enniskillen and County Fermanagh who have quietly built bridges, sustained friendships and strengthened community life over many years.

“Whatever contribution we may have made has only been possible because so many others have shared that same commitment.”

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, Rev Ian Ellis, expressed delight at the recognition for Rev Hall and Fr O’Reilly.

“Together they have worked tirelessly and courageously for better community and church relationships in Enniskillen and more widely in Co Fermanagh,” he said.

“These honours are richly deserved in acknowledgement of the consistent witness both have given to the gospel of reconciliation.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that a “swift and lethal kinetic” U.S. strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called “the infamous leader” of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.

The U.S. State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest

In a post on his social media site, Trump wrote, “Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.” Trump’s post referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias, “Niño Guerrero.”

The post also included unclassified video, shot from above, of a small building with a green roof exploding.

Hegseth said, “The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere.”

Venezuela’s ministry of communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the operation.

Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against the gang, including a series of strikes on small boats his administration has accused of smuggling drugs to America. At least 207 people have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.

Trump and administration officials have consistently blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. The president spent months repeating the claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua had operated under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control. The U.S. whisked Maduro out of Venezuela to face U.S. drug charges in January.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as millions of Venezuelans migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. in search of better living conditions.

Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua for murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuela’s crisis began as corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy. Guerrero Flores and a few other inmates saw a profitable opportunity as the government neglected prisons.

They assumed control and administration of the prison, establishing a system that controlled the entire inmate population through force and extortion. Over time, they transformed the facility into a sort of city that included a zoo, baseball field, casino and restaurants. Guerrero Flores had his own lavish suite.

The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind a spree of violence in the region. Still, unlike other criminal organizations from Colombia, Central America and Brazil, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, a think tank that tracks crime across Latin America.

In Venezuela, gang leaders have long been known to participate in various illegal activities, including gold mining.

Trump campaigned for a second term promising to crack down on immigration and crime. While polls show his favorability ratings have sagged on his handling of the economy, immigration remains Trump’s strongest issue, according to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

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Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed.

Both domestic and international travellers were affected after hubs, including London Heathrow, experienced higher passenger volumes into the summer season, operational constraints and airline scheduling pressures

Passengers were left stranded across Europe after flight disruptions were recorded across major travel hubs.

Major airports, including London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle, recorded a combined 1,225 flight delays and 73 cancellations.

Disruptions affected both domestic and international travellers after hubs experienced higher passenger volumes into the summer season, operational constraints and airline scheduling pressures.

Airlines, including EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways reported minor delays, but the volume of flights created bottlenecks, Travel and Tour World reported.

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The following airports faced a high number of flight disruptions:

1. Amsterdam Schiphol – 25 cancellations and 277 delays

Travellers are told to arrive early, monitor airline notifications and prepare for longer wait times.

2. London Heathrow – 11 cancellations and 386 delays

Passengers have been advised confirm their flight status and expect longer security and boarding lines.

3. Paris Charles de Gaulle – 13 cancellations and 292 delays

Travellers are warned to expect increased transit times and consider rebooking or refund options if their scheduled flight is disrupted.

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4. Copenhagen – 12 cancellations and 173 delays

Travellers are being told to arrive early for security clearance and to be flexible with travel plans due to summer congestion.

5. Oslo Gardermoen – 12 cancellations and 97 delays

Passengers are being advised to be prepared for schedule changes on both domestic and international routes.

The knock-on effect of a single delayed or cancelled flight can ripple across multiple routes, given how interconnected the aviation network is.

The Bury-born actress was awarded for services to drama and charity

Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has become the first ever cast member from the ITV soap to be awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2026.

The actress joined the ITV soap back in 1995 as Mandy Dingle. Her character is best known for her comedic timing, witty comebacks and bubbly personality.

After taking a short break from the Dales, Lisa returned as a full-time cast member in 2019 and has been involved in some of the biggest storylines over the last year, including her father-in-law Bear Wolf falling into the horrific world of modern slavery.

This year, on July 13, Lisa will be turning 50 years old, and there’s no better way to celebrate the milestone than by being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to drama and to charity as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2026.

She said of the honour: “Wow if this is not my best 50th birthday present being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list, I don’t know what is.

“I am being awarded an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, for my services to drama and to charity. To say I am humbled is an absolute understatement. To have been able to do my job as an actor for 36 years now, never having a day out of work in our industry, is an honour in itself.”

Lisa’s mum, Cath, died from pancreatic cancer back in 2012. Twelve years after she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Since then. the actress has used the platform to raise awareness and advocate for charities.

She added: “My platform has enabled me to be an ambassador for my chosen charities: Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s Yorkshire, Sane and Sue Ryder.

“These charities, since losing my beloved mum Cath to cancer, have helped me at times of grief, when I personally needed them the most. So, giving back was the least I could do.

“I made that promise to my mum before she died: I told her I would help as many families as possible, as we are all in this together, and we understand.”

After playing such an iconic role for over 30 years, Lisa noted that she’s the “first ever cast member of Emmerdale” to have been awarded an MBE.

The actress continued: “For me playing the role of Mandy Dingle is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only that, being a woman in our industry, sisterhood means everything to me.

“The finest feeling today is that I can truly feel my mum’s smile and her electric energy on my shoulders, the pride that her little girl ‘DID IT’! Thank you so much, my heart is the warmest it could ever be. Finally to my partner Al and my gorgeous family, I love you.

Iain Macleod, creative director of continuing drama at ITV offered his congratulations for Lisa, adding that her role as a Dingle is a “much-beloved presence on the nation’s screens”, sharing how loved she is by both friends and colleagues working on the Yorkshire-based soap.

He concluded: “This warmth and big-heartedness is in evidence in the amazing work she does for the many charities she so passionately supports. Lisa is a genuine force for good in the world and we’re all delighted for her.”

From a Michelin-listed tasting menu on Silver Street to riverside brunch spots with cathedral views, Durham’s eating scene is better than it has ever been.

For a special occasion: Faru, 29 Silver Street

Opened in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Jake and Laura Siddle, Faru sits just off Silver Street in the cobbled city centre and has quietly established itself as one of the finest restaurants in the north of England.

The Michelin Guide described it as a restaurant where chefs “show their talent across colourful, precisely executed dishes that utilise punchy flavours like Sichuan pepper, onion ketchup and an intense duck jus.”

The no-choice tasting menu runs to around ten courses, and reviewers on Tripadvisor note that “a Michelin star cannot be far away.”

Book well in advance — the restaurant has around ten tables and Saturday lunch sittings are limited to a single sitting from noon.

For riverside views: Cosy Club, The Riverwalk

If you want a table with a view of Durham Cathedral while you eat, Cosy Club on The Riverwalk is one of the most crowd-pleasing options in the city.

Open from 9am until late, it serves everything from brunch and coffee to cocktails and dinner, making it equally well suited to the morning before the racing or a long evening after it.

One Tripadvisor reviewer summed it up as “stylish yet relaxed” with “food and drinks that were excellent and every detail handled with care.”

For brunch on the riverbank: Riverview Kitchen, Silver Street

Tucked below Framwellgate Bridge on the Silver Street riverbank, Riverview Kitchen is a compact, dog-friendly cafe that does some of the best pancakes in the city.

Open from 9am at weekends, it is the sort of place you stumble upon and keep coming back to, with a relaxed atmosphere and direct views across the Wear.

One reviewer described the food and service as “excellent” and the setting as “superb”, adding: “Put this on your list if you haven’t already.”

For a hidden gem: The Cellar Door, 41 Saddler Street

Set within a 13th-century building on the main street up to the cathedral, The Cellar Door is, as one reviewer put it, “a blink and you’ll miss it establishment” that rewards those who find it.

The menu is European in character, the set lunch is considered excellent value at around £30, and the atmosphere is warm and unhurried.

Open Monday to Saturday until 9:15pm and Sunday until 4:45pm, it suits both a lazy regatta lunch and an evening dinner.

For coffee and brunch: Flat White Kitchen, Saddler Street

The go-to brunch spot for anyone who wants excellent coffee and a beautifully presented plate in a characterful setting.

Flat White Kitchen occupies a renovated 17th-century townhouse and is widely regarded as serving some of the best coffee in the north-east.

The menu is short but very well executed, with strong gluten-free options and a rotating selection of cakes.

Open from 9am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, closing at 4pm, it is best suited to a regatta morning rather than an evening.

For steaks and cathedral views: Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Old Elvet

Located in the historic Old Shire Hall on Old Elvet, with views across to Durham Cathedral, Marco Pierre White’s Durham restaurant is a reliable choice for a celebratory dinner.

The menu combines signature steaks with British and French classics; one reviewer wrote that “the food was amazing, the decor and ambience were all perfect.”

A short walk from the regatta enclosure on Old Elvet, it is a natural choice for an evening booking after the Saturday racing.

For Italian-American small plates and cocktails: Notch Americano, 96 Elvet Bridge

Sitting right on Elvet Bridge, Notch Americano brings Italian-American small plates and signature cocktails to one of Durham’s most prominent streets.

Reviewers describe it as a “perfect spot along the bridge” with friendly staff and a chilled atmosphere.

Open from noon on both Saturday and Sunday, the location puts you directly on the route between the regatta enclosure and the city centre.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods QPM, the UK’s most experienced officer of that rank, was awarded a CBE in recognition of his many years of service.

Bolton-born DCC Woods started his career as a special constable before joining Lancashire Police in 1996, eventually rising to the National Police Chiefs Council’s lead for Police Driving.

DCC Woods said: “I am extremely humbled and proud to be receiving an honour from His Majesty the King.

“I would particularly like to thank my wife and family who have supported me over many years, making countless sacrifices, as is the case for so many Police families.

DCC Woods is renowned across the country for his experience and expertise (Image: GMP)

“I would also like to pay tribute to the thousands of Greater Manchester Police officers and staff who work tirelessly around the clock to keep the public safe, all of which have my deepest respect and recognition for their constant dedication and sacrifice.”

DDC Wood’s roles with Lancashire Police included response, specialist operations, neighbourhood policing and safeguarding,

He was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in 2017, and later Deputy Chief Constable in 2019, before joining Greater Manchester Police in September 2021.

Having been awarded the Queen’s Policing Medal in 2021 DDC Woods has become well know for his role as the National Police Chiefs Council’s lead for Police Driving.

He was forked to help transform standards, bring in legislative change and has worked hard to bring all 48 forces into full compliance.

The force says his work has contributed to public safety and provided more recognition and legal protections for police officers for the risk they are willing to take.

DCC Woods has also often been sought out for advice on UK specialist command training and operations and for organisations outside of policing.

GMP says that DCC Woods is known as a strong and engaging leader, with a rare combination of high competence and high proficiency and driving for organisational improvements. 

Whenever time allows, he is often to be found working shifts with one of the many teams across the force. 

The force says he is genuinely liked and admired by those who work with him and for him.

GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: “I am delighted to see Deputy Chief Constable Woods recognised for his contributions to policing.

“He is an officer of exceptional calibre, with significant achievements that markedly exceed the requirements of his role, both locally and nationally.

“DCC Woods has been at my side at Greater Manchester Police, almost from the beginning of my tenure.   

“His drive and effectiveness have been central to the improvements we have seen over the past five years.

“He has worked diligently through programmes of complex change, while driving up core standards and performance in what is genuinely one of the most challenging operating environments in UK policing.”

Among the most prominent names is Professor Carol Brayne of the University of Cambridge, who is appointed a Dame Commander for services to medicine, medical research and public health

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Cambridgeshire’s King’s Birthday Honours list is led by several nationally and internationally recognised figures from medicine, mental health, science and public service, alongside a wide range of academic, NHS and community contributors across the county.

Among the most prominent names is Professor Carol Brayne of the University of Cambridge, who is appointed a Dame Commander for services to medicine, medical research and public health. She is joined by Mind chief executive Dr Sarah Hughes, recognised for services to mental health and civil society, and senior Cambridge-based pharmaceutical scientist Dr David Rees, honoured for services to chemistry and innovation.

The list also includes senior industrial relations figure Clare Chapman, alongside Cambridge academics and innovators such as Professor Susan Sentance and cyber policy specialist Jen Ellis, reflecting the region’s strong research and technology footprint.

The remaining honours recognise a broad spread of public service and community impact, including NHS clinicians, foster carers, magistrates, heritage trustees and voluntary sector leaders, with Cambridge University Hospitals staff and Peterborough-based contributors featuring prominently across health, justice and education.

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

• Professor Carol Elspeth Goodeve Brayne CBE. Professor Emeritus and Senior Visiting Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. For services to Medicine, Medical Research and Public Health. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Professor Ian David Abrahams. Professor, University of Cambridge. For services to Mathematical Sciences. (Nantwich, Cheshire)
• Clare Moira Chapman. Chair, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. For services to Industrial Relations. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr Sarah Joan Hughes. Chief Executive Officer, Mind. For services to Mental Health and to Civil Society. (St. Neots, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr David Charles Rees FMedSci. Lately Chief Scientific Officer, Astex Pharmaceuticals. For services to Chemistry and Innovation. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Professor Susan Elizabeth Sentance. Research Professor and Director, The Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre, University of Cambridge. For services to Education. (Royston, Hertfordshire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Nafiza Aktar Anwar. Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives. For services to Charity and to Healthcare. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr John Richard Buscombe. Lately Consultant in Nuclear Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Nuclear Medicine. (London, Greater London)
• Dr Azhar Mahmood Chaudhry. General Practitioner, Thistlemoor Medical Centre, Peterborough. For services to the community in Peterborough. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
• Emily Cherry. Chief Executive, Bikeability Trust. For services to Active Travel for Young People. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Jen Ellis. Founder, NextJenSecurity. For services to Cyber Policy. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Maureen Greene. Foster Carer, Peterborough City Council. For services to Foster Care. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
• Stephen Greene. Foster Carer, Peterborough City Council. For services to Foster Care. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr Arun Kumar Gupta. Consultant in Anaesthesia and NeuroCritical Care, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Director, Cambridge Digital Health and Surgical Training Centre and Affiliated Associate Professor, University of Cambridge. For services to Medical Education. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Michael Howard Levy. Volunteer Educator and Author. For services to Holocaust Education. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr Roderick Mackenzie. Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine. (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)
• Dr Colin Duncan Prosser. Principal Specialist Geoheritage and Geoconservation, Natural England. For services to Geoconservation. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
• Suzanne Elizabeth Raine. Trustee, Imperial War Museum. For services to Heritage. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Tracy Sortwell JP. Magistrate and Chair, Magistrates’ Association’s Family Court Committee. For services to the Administration of Justice. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

• Rex Ormonde Freeman. For services to the Arts and to the community in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Lorna Bridget Williams. Chief Executive Officer, British Adhesives and Sealants Association. For services to the Chemicals Industry. (Ely, Cambridgeshire)

Simple-but-captivating debut flick for writer-director Alison Locke.

The Apology is a hard film to review as its simple-but-captivating story is best left unspoiled.

All you really need to know is it’s a thriller and the general plot sees recovering alcoholic Darlene (Anna Gunn) marking the 20th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance at Christmas time when her estranged former brother-in-law Jack (Linus Roache) unexpectedly arrives on her doorstep.

With its single house location and miniscule cast, The Apology is reminiscent of a stage play – and like theatre’s best, heavily relies on the quality of its cast.

Breaking Bad’s Gunn and Mandy’s Roache are absolutely sensational throughout two very different performances.

The pair have a past and endure just about every emotion imaginable as the unforgettable winter night unfolds.

The only other main cast member is Janeane Garofalo ( Gretchen ), an actress I have always been a fan of, and the New Jersey-born star plays a small-but-important part in proceedings.

After helming a pair of short films, writer-director Alison Locke makes her feature-length flick debut with a very powerful piece of work.

Setting it during Christmas tugs on reflective family heart strings and the blizzard battering outside ensures the claustrophobic belief that no-one can go anywhere.

If I was to be uber critical, Locke’s film does start to run out of steam before the climax as there is only so much mileage you can get out of such a small cast and the developments between them.

Overall, however, I am not sorry to say I really enjoyed The Apology . As much as it’s great to get swept up in blockbusters like The Mandalorian and Grogu or the latest MCU offering, sometimes taking a step back to small scale fare is just what the movie doctor ordered.

● What are your thoughts on flicks with a small cast and single location? Do you prefer the intimacy, or larger scale filmmaking?

Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.

Cara Gilhooley got in touch to say: “Scarpetta on Amazon Prime is a great show. As a fan of the books it is based on, they nailed all of the main characters really well.”

● The Apology is showing on Shudder.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

Here are all six roads closed in and around the town this weekend: 

Bull Wynd

Bull Wynd will be closed from June 13 to June 14.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway.

Faverdale

Faverdale will see a road closure starting on March 9 and continuing until September 7.

Restrictions are expected to remain in place for highway improvement works.

North Road West Back

North Road West Back will be closed from June 1 to June 14.

The restrictions are scheduled to remain in place for carriageway planing and resurfacing.

Jesmond Road

Jesmond Road will be closed from June 13 to June 14.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway.

Harrowgate Village

Harrowgate Village will be closed from March 31 to July 31.

Restrictions are expected to remain in place for highway improvements.

Beaumont Hill

Beaumont Hill will be closed from March 31 to July 31.

The restrictions are scheduled to remain in place for highway improvement works.

Being handed an honour by the monarch is widely considered a huge achievement there are plenty of well-known faces who have spurned the advances of Buckingham Palace

They are often considered the pinnacle of recognition for those who might have achieved pretty much everything in their field whether they be well-known sportspeople or entertainers or regular working people and volunteers whose dedication has had a huge impact.

Twice a year the honours lists see thousands of people bestowed with things like CBEs, MBEs, and OBEs or made a knight or dame. The latest King’s honours birthday list has been published and will once again see worthy candidates across numerous fields and from all parts recognised for their excellence.

But while the New Year and birthday honours bestowed by the King or Queen are celebrated by some there are plenty of others who have palmed off the offer of a gong. It may not be considered the ‘done thing’ to publicly refuse an honour there have been plenty of instances of that trend being bucked whether by formal statement or on occasions through leaks.

There have also been high-profile instances of honours being handed back by recipients.

Proposed honourees are written to ascertain they are happy to be put forward for recognition in a bid to avoid any hiccups.

During Queen Elizabeth II’s lengthy reign many thousands of people – some well-known and many lesser-known – were recognised in the biannual honours lists. This year’s New Year’s list will of course again be King Charles‘ honours announcement.

Over the years there have been a wide range of big names who have turned down the possibility of a trip to the palace including authors, painters, and music stars like Cardiff-born author Roald Dahl, singer David Bowie, and film director Alfred Hitchcock. The artist LS Lowry declined four different honours on five separate occasions, which is currently a record.

In 2012 the Cabinet Office confirmed 277 people had declined a New Year or birthday honour from 1951 to 1999. Although once rare to admit publicly after the official list was released it became more common for stars to speak out. In 2020 the Guardian reported, based on a freedom of information request, that the number of people refusing an honour that year was 68 out of 2,504 offered equating to 2.7%.

Who has refused an honour?

Nigella Lawson

The celebrity chef has revealed in the past that she turned down the offer of an OBE in 2001 saying: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.”

Stephen Hawking

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In 2008 Hawking said he had been approached with an offer of a knighthood in the late 1990s but had turned it down. His decision was later said to have been down to the government’s dealing with science funding and cuts. He had already been appointed a CBE.

Paul Weller

The musician rejected his CBE in 2006. In a statement his spokesperson said: “Paul was surprised and flattered but it wasn’t really for him.”

John Lennon

The Beatle initially accepted an MBE but later, in 1969, he decided to return it in protest of Britain’s foreign policies. In a letter he explained: “Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon of Bag.”

John Cleese

The Monty Python star was offered a CBE in 1996 but said they were “silly”. He was offered a peerage by Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown in 1999 but declined because he felt staying in England during the winter months to fulfil his role as a working peer was “too much of a price to pay”.

George Harrison

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The former Beatle turned an OBE down in 2000 – after Paul McCartnery was awarded a knighthood. Every Beatles member was awarded an MBE in 1965 though John Lennon returned his. It’s thought he was put forward for his contribution to music but there was speculation Harrison would have been insulted that bandmate McCartney got his knighthood three years before. “Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive,” friend Roy Connolly told the Independent. “George would have felt insulted – and with very good reason.”

Ken Loach

Ken Loach turned down an OBE in 1977. His films focus on social issues such as poverty and homelessness. He told the Radio Times in 2001: “It’s all the things I think are despicable: patronage, deferring to the monarchy, and the name of the British Empire, which is a monument of exploitation and conquest. I turned down the OBE because it’s not a club you want to join when you look at the villains who’ve got it.”

Jon Snow

Having declined an OBE in 2000 the former Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow went on to make a documentary in 2002 entitled Secrets of the Honours System. He remains critical of the use of the term ‘empire’ in our honours system. “I tried to find out why I’d been given it and was unable to get a clear answer or, indeed, to find out who had proposed me,” he said afterwards.

Danny Boyle

Film director Danny Boyle turned down an honour because he thought it was “was wrong” to claim credit for his work as the man behind the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. “It’s just not me,” he said, adding that thousands of people were involved in executing the ceremony.

“You can make these speeches about: ‘This is everybody’s work, blah blah blah’. And you’ve got to mean it, and I did mean it, and it is true, and it’s the only way you can carry on something like that: through the efforts of all the people. I don’t know whether I’ll ever get invited back to the palace.”

Bernie Ecclestone

The former Formula One Group’s chief executive, who pleaded guilty to fraud for failing to declare £400m held in a trust, turned down an honour in the early 2000s stating in a 2019 interview that while he was glad if he had done some good this was not his main intention when setting out in business so he did not feel he deserved an honour.

LS Lowry

The famed painter is believed to hold the record for the most refusals having reportedly turned down five honours including a knighthood, a CBE, and an OBE. His close friend Harold Riley later revealed the artist was a private and guarded person who would not have wanted to change his name, which contributed to his decision not to accept the honours.

Huw T Edwards

The Welsh trade unionist and Welsh Labour politician was uncomfortable with honours and refused a knighthood on at least two occasions in subsequent years. He had previously accepted an MBE before later renouncing it.

Rudyard Kipling

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The writer and poet declined a knighthood in 1899 and again in 1903. His wife said that Kipling felt he could “do his work better without it”. Kipling also declined the Order of Merit in 1921 and again in 1924. Kipling expressed his own view on the importance of titles and poetry in his poem The Last Rhyme of True Thomas.

Honor Blackman

Before her death in 2020 the Bond actress was a vocal supporter of Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state in the UK – so it’s hardly surprising that she turned down a CBE in 2002. Blackman also publicly criticised fellow Bond star Sir Sean Connery for his tax-evading habits. “I don’t think you should accept a title from a country and then pay absolutely no tax towards it,” she said in 2012. “I don’t think his principles are very high.”

Benjamin Zephaniah

The poet, who died in December 2023 aged just 65, publicly rejected an OBE in 2003 in protest at British government policies and the British Empire. Writing in the Guardian he said the word ’empire’ “reminds me of slavery, it reminds of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised”. The writer described himself as “profoundly anti-empire”.

Jim Broadbent

The national treasure turned down an OBE in 2002, humbly stating that he wasn’t comfortable with actors receiving Royal recognition. “I think [honours] ought to go to those who really help others,” he told the Telegraph. “Besides I like the idea of actors not being part of the Establishment. We’re vagabonds and rogues.” Broadbent then went on to take issue with the system’s subtext, saying: “I don’t think the British Empire is something that I particularly want to celebrate.”

Michael Sheen

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After receiving a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 for services to drama the Welsh actor quietly handed back the award in 2017 after looking into the history of the relationship between England and Wales for a lecture. “By the time I had finished writing that lecture…I remember sitting there going: ‘Well, I have a choice – I either don’t give this lecture and hold on to my OBE or I give this lecture and I have to give my OBE back,’” Sheen said in a conversation with The Guardian columnist Owen Jones in 2020.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

The comedy pairing turned down OBEs “for services to comedy drama” in 2001. It was only later they explained they had rejected the honour. Saunders subsequently told Source magazine: “If I felt I deserved a damehood I’d accept it. At the time we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow. We didn’t deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes.”

David Bowie

Bowie himself later explained his decision not to join the list of musical knights including Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sir Elton John. He said: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.” When asked about Jagger accepting the honour he said: “It’s not my place to make a judgment on Jagger – it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.”

Roald Dahl

The Cardiff-born author of some of the world’s best-loved children’s books, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, rejected a knighthood in the 1986 New Year’s honours. The information was revealed by a freedom of information request by the Telegraph. However the reason for turning down the honour wasn’t included.

Albert Finney

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The late actor declined a CBE in 1980 and a knighthood in 2000. In a scathing attack on the honours system the Bourne star described the idea of knighting people as a disease, adding that it “perpetuates snobbery”.

Andrew Davies

The Welsh screenplay writer, best known for House of Cards and his adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is reported to have turned down an honour but no reason has been given.

Alan Rickman

The late actor is said to have turned down a CBE during his career. However he never made his reasoning public at the time. There has since been a posthumous campaign to get Rickman knighted but so far there’s been no talk of it happening.

John Lydon

The famously anti-establishment star was reportedly offered an MBE. A few decades before he was part of the Sex Pistols when their song God Save the Queen was released in the week of the Queen’s silver jubilee. Not surprisingly he turned it down.