The 2026 list celebrates dozens of people from across County Durham, Teesside, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear whose work has had a lasting impact on their communities.

Leading the regional honours is Durham University cosmologist Professor Carlos Frenk, who has been knighted for services to astrophysics and cosmology.

Professor Sir Carlos Frenk (Image: DURHAM UNIVERSITY)

Sir Carlos, one of the architects of the Cold Dark Matter theory, said: “To be knighted by His Majesty The King is a tremendous honour and to say that I am overjoyed is an understatement.

“I am hugely grateful to my wife, Susan, and my family, my colleagues and students, and to Durham University, all of whom have given me unconditional support over the years, without which this would have never happened.

“As a teenager I remember being captivated by a night sky alight with stars and I knew then that I wanted to spend my life understanding its origins.

“To have been able to do that, working alongside some of the world’s most talented scientists, has been the greatest privilege.”

The honours also recognise people whose work has been driven by deeply personal experiences.

Allison White who turned her own cancer diagnosis into action has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours list for a BEM. (Image: PROVIDED)

Newton Aycliffe’s Allison White receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) after turning her own leukaemia diagnosis into the Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group, which now helps thousands of people across County Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire.

She said: “It still doesn’t feel real. When I got the letter I think I went into total shock. It is amazing really, volunteering for 12 years is a long time and a lot of work so I am just so proud of everyone involved that has brought us to this moment.

“We don’t do it for recognition, we have helped thousands of people, we just do it to help.

“But this has definitely been a true honour and put a bit of spark back into us I think.”

Faye Marsh (BEM) – Peer Mentor Manager, Darlington Borough Council. (Image: PROVIDED)

Another BEM recipient, Darlington Borough Council’s Faye Marsh, has spent a quarter of a century supporting vulnerable children and young people.

After learning of the award, she said: “I kept re-reading it over and over as I was shell shocked and just so humbled by it all.

“To do a job for 25 years that you love it feels nice to take that praise but also so emotional. I was, and remain, truly humbled to receive this honour.”

Graeme Black MBE (Image: GRAEME BLACK)

Among those receiving MBEs is Graeme Black from Chester-le-Street for his work supporting young people into employment through Durham Works.

He described the honour as “an incredible privilege”, adding: “Having the opportunity to be a business ambassador in my local community, to be able to guide and support our younger generation in bridging the gap between education and the local labour market is massively rewarding.”

Northumbria University’s Nigel Coates has also been recognised with an MBE after founding the institution’s pioneering Business Clinic, linking thousands of students with real-world consultancy projects.

He said: “I am genuinely overwhelmed – and utterly surprised – to receive this MBE.

“It is an honour I hold with enormous pride. But this award does not belong to me alone.

“Everything we achieved at the Business Clinic was down to a truly wonderful team whom I had the great privilege of leading.”

The honours list also celebrates decades of dedication to preserving the region’s history.

Geoff Hill has been awarded a BEM for his tireless work commemorating the airmen of RAF Middleton St George and safeguarding aviation heritage.

“I didn’t ever expect to get an award because I do what I do to commemorate all the lads and lasses who served and lost their lives, so it is a great honour and privilege for me,” he said.

Richard Starrs (far right) recognised for his role in the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary (Image: DARLINGTON COUNCIL)

Heritage is another recurring theme across this year’s list, with Richard Starrs recognised for his role in the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary and Reuben Kench honoured for his contribution to rail preservation.

Elsewhere, Beamish Museum chief executive Rhiannon Hiles receives a CBE for services to museums and culture, while Sunderland South’s former MP Chris Mullin has been knighted for political and public service.

Rhiannon Jane Hiles (CBE) Chief Executive, Beamish Museum. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The honours also recognise leaders in healthcare, education and public service, including Halo Project chief executive Yasmin Khan, NHS North East and North Cumbria chief executive Samantha Allen, former Durham children’s services director John Pearce, Northumbria University’s Dr Colin Richardson and Northern School of Art principal Dr Martin Raby.

In total, 1182 recipients have been awarded this year for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus on recognising community change-makers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Across the UK, people are quietly changing lives and strengthening their communities. This Honours List is a chance to recognise them.

 “Their dedication shows how lasting change is built – through compassion, resilience and a commitment to others.

 “It speaks to the decent, hopeful country we are proud to be, and on behalf of the whole nation, I want to say thank you.”

The King’s Birthday Honours this year also highlighted a wide range of national figures, led by rugby league great Kevin Sinfield, actress Dame Helen Mirren, and several of England’s Euro-winning Lionesses.

Sinfield was knighted for his extraordinary fundraising and advocacy for motor neurone disease, raising over £10 million inspired by his late teammate Rob Burrow, while six Lionesses, including Chloe Kelly and rising star Michelle Agyemang, received MBEs for their historic football triumph.

Dame Helen Mirren was appointed a Companion of Honour for her outstanding contribution to drama, as nearly 1,200 individuals across sport, arts, charity, and public life were recognised for their impact on British society.

Keep checking The Northern Echo’s website tomorrow morning for extended profiles and interviews with some of the North East winners.

Every effort has been made to include all of the North East and North Yorkshire recipients. If you know of any that have been missed out, please email our newsdesk at newsdesk@nne.co.uk

The Cross Keys in Thixendale, which dates back at least to 1793, is popular with walkers, including those on the Wolds Way.

The CAMRA award winning business closed when proprietors Steve and Mary Anstey retired after many years in charge.

However, the pub has now been bought by two local residents Simon Wood and Gordon McIlroy.

They said the aim was to bring the pub and community back together.

“A full refurbishment of the pub, kitchen, garden and accommodation is in process and the pub will open on Friday 12 June, with a full range of draft beers, lager, cider, and Guinness, with a food menu, starting soon.

“Coffee, cakes and savouries will also be available during the weekend days.

“Three letting rooms will also soon be available once refurbished, offering bed and breakfast on site at the pub. The beer garden will also open soon.

” We hope the local villagers and visitors to Thixendale and the Wolds Way, will enjoy their time at the Cross Keys.”

The Cross Keys is open Wednesday to Friday, 5 – 11pm, Saturday, 12noon to 11pm and Sunday, 12noon to 5pm.

Katie Tinkler revealed how an experimental treatment for lupus has changed her life as trials showed this therapy put the condition into remission

An experimental treatment on the NHS, with “groundbreaking” findings, has put the lupus disease into remission, trials in the UK have shown.

For the first time in the UK, people with severe lupus have been treated with CAR T-cell therapy, which experts believe may also work for illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. This therapy, which only needs to be given to someone once, could revolutionise treatment and remove the need for lifelong medication. One of the first patients to receive the treatment, Katie Tinkler, said life before and after was “like night and day”.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues, causing widespread inflammation and damage to organs such as the kidneys, lungs and heart.

CAR T-cell therapy works by genetically modifying cells to allow the body’s own immune system to recognise and attack problem cells. Until now, this therapy has only been offered to cancer patients on the NHS. In the new NHS trial, led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and University College London (UCL), five out of six patients with severe lupus went into remission within a few months of receiving CAR-T.

Katie Tinkler said she forced to leave her job as a fitness instructor because of debilitating pain and fatigue caused by severe lupus, which she has suffered with since she was 20. The condition also caused Katie to deal with swollen and painful joints, kidney damage that meant she was close to needing dialysis, lung and heart disease, and a tendency to develop blood clots.

She also suffered sepsis and multi-organ failure due to lupus, and was put in a coma in intensive care. Now, the 52-year-old from Guildford, Surrey, who is married and has three children, is in remission thanks to CAR-T she had at UCLH.

Katie said: “Thinking about how life was for beforehand and how it is now, it’s like night and day. My whole system was affected by lupus and my joints were so painful that sometimes I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t use my hands to pick up mugs. My kidneys, heart and lungs were all getting worse. But now I don’t have these problems any more.”

The 52-year-old revealed that she is now able to do certain things that her condition stopped her from doing, which included going on a ski trip for the first time in 10 years and dancing at her daughter’s wedding. She said: “My youngest child, he’s 20 this year, so for 10 years now he can’t remember me previously. My children can’t remember me participating in things before now.”

Katie has been able to come off all steroid treatment and the other cocktail of drugs that were keeping her alive. She now takes just two tablets a day to prevent blood clots and keep her blood pressure low. She said: “It’s miraculous for me. My life two years ago versus now, it’s unrecognisable.”

Around 69,000 people in the UK are thought to have the condition, which mostly affects women. The new study enrolled nine patients with active, severe disease who had not responded to multiple treatments for lupus. Six patients received a lower dose of CAR-T while three were given a higher dose so results could be compared.

After infusion, patients showed strong expansion of CAR-T cells and deep depletion of problem B cells. Over time, B cells began to return, typically between three and six months, but were predominantly early-stage cells, rather than the more mature populations associated with causing issues in lupus.

Researchers said the findings show that the therapy may be enabling an “immune reset,” rather than just suppressing the immune system – which is an important objective in treating autoimmune diseases.

Professor Karl Peggs, director of UCLH’s biomedical research centre, said CAR-T could offer people the chance of a cure, although bigger studies were needed. He said: “These findings are truly groundbreaking and offer fresh hope to people living with lupus.

“While more research is needed, the possibility that CAR T-cell therapy could deliver an immune reset and potentially free patients from the cycle of chronic autoimmune disease marks a remarkable step forward. If these results are confirmed in larger studies, the prospect of a cure for lupus may no longer be out of reach.”

By Jeremy Armstrong in Kansas City

Two of England’s most loyal fans have offered a US ‘survival’ guide for our supporters. Andy Milne, 63, and Garford Beck, 64, have attended 20 World Cups between them. Andy, of Northwich, Cheshire, became so famous after being spotted in the England crowd at Qatar with a replica of the Jules Rimet trophy that he was nicknamed ‘That World Cup Guy’.

He has just released a book of the same name based on his travels to nine previous tournaments. Garford, 64, of London, also at his 10th World Cup, will feature in ITV adverts seen by millions during commercial breaks of their coverage. This follows the Mirror’s report on his incredible exploits following England around the world.

Andy first travelled to Spain for the 1982 World Cup – and kept going even after all his belongings were stolen. He said: “In the early days I had to save money. For Germany in 2006, I had a mattress in the back of the car and I used to sleep in that. I would drive to a campsite to wash my clothes there and have a shower every morning because it was very hot.

“I didn’t take a sleeping bag, I just had a thick double duvet. Later on, I would travel with a tent.” Andy, who put his second £350,000 home on the market to fund his trip to the US, added: “If I couldn’t camp then I would use an Airbnb with mates.”

Garford, a civil servant, still has an England ticket from 1973 autographed by Alan Ball and memorabilia from a lifetime of following England. He said: “My first game was against England in 1972 with my dad and looking back it was the beginning of the end for Sir Alf Ramsey.

“That shows how long I have been a fan! Nowadays I would advise fans to keep in touch on social media, team up with people on the road where and look at cheap modes of transport and accommodation. On the first night in Samara, Russia, at the 2018 World Cup, we ended up in a school dorm. Then FIFA laid on a free train.

“In America, I am going to take a Greyhound bus from Dallas to Boston which will take 40 hours. It is £135 with three changes but it will be a real experience and give me time to think and see parts of America that I would never have seen otherwise.

“You leave at 3.15am which may not be very comfortable, but I am going to Nashville and New York before Boston, and through Memphis, Jackson, Knoxville, and Charlottesville. That is what you will remember: the places and the people.”

A licensing application has been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council for the fast food restaurant at The Lanyard near Hartlepool Marina.

Submitted by Alderforce North Limited, it seeks to secure the site permission to serve “late night refreshment”, which is needed to offer hot food and hot drinks between 11pm and 5am, until 2am each day.

Currently the eatery closes at 11pm – meaning no licence is needed for its operation.

The proposals describe the site as a “quick service restaurant with dining in, takeaway, drive-through and delivery facilities” and state it will now look to open from 9am until 2pm seven days a week.

Its current operating hours, for both the eat-in restaurant and the drive-through, are 10.30am until 11pm each day, while it offers delivery via various online apps and websites until 10.45pm.

The application outlines how various measures will be in place to ensure no issues arise at the site and licensing objectives are complied with.

This includes CCTV being operational at all times, providing litter bins which are emptied at regular intervals and ensuring facilities are designed “to prevent the transmission of audible noise or perceptible vibration”.

The application adds the provision of late night refreshment at the fast food restaurant would take place both indoors and outdoors.

Any objections to the application must be made in writing to: The Licensing Team, Hartlepool Borough Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY or via email to  licensing@hartlepool.gov.uk.

This must be done no later than June 24, 2026.

The man required hospital treatment after he was bitten by a large, brown mastiff-type dog in Doncaster Road, Selby at approximately 8.55am on Sunday (June 7).

North Yorkshire Police said the animal was one of a pair of dogs walked by a man aged around 40, who was wearing a black sweatshirt and black trousers.

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The man, who is also said to have had a black terrier dog with him, denied that any attack had taken place and possibly left along Green Lane.

A force spokesperson said: “Police would like to speak with the owner of the dogs.”

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who saw anything at the time, has home cameras in the area, or was driving in the area with an active dashcam.

If you have any further information to help police with their investigation, please email mark.burrows@northyorkshire.police.uk.    

Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Please quote reference 12260105057 when passing on information.

​Louise and Adrian Wilson, who run award-winning Wilsons Food Hall in Seamer, plan to turn the Newby and Scalby Community Hall into Wilsons Food & Community Hall, a go-to destination for all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

​Local residents have said that the “loss of this hall would be a major blow to the community” and the proposed sale has been raised with the Charity Commission by a member of Scarborough Town Council.

​This week, the trustees of Newby and Scalby Community Hall Trust announced the successful bid, following an informal tender, for the Community Hall building, which they said would secure the future of the Trust and create new opportunities to support the local community.

​The building was listed for £300,000 on Rightmove, and while the Trust has said that any money generated will remain within the Trust and will be “managed responsibly and transparently”, residents have claimed they were not consulted about the proposed sale.

(Image: Pic supplied)

​The plans have sparked a row in the community and an ‘urgent’ meeting, attended by more than 100 residents,  was held on Thursday, June 11.

Local resident Fiona Mullane, who attended the “very fruitful meeting”, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Things seem to be moving rather too quickly, but the trustees seem eager to pursue this, even though they know the local strength of feeling.”

She added: “We need to save the hall, and to pursue a sale is fundamentally wrong.”

​Mr Wilson said: “We are delighted to have successfully won the bid and tender to purchase the Newby and Scalby Community Hall (subject to contract).

​“The trust has been very clear in their requirements to make sure that the village hall continues to be a go-to community destination fit for the future, accommodating as many community-based activities as possible.”

​The 4,000 sq ft hall was previously run by Scarborough Borough Council before ownership was transferred to the trust.

​Chris Clark, an elected member of Scarborough Town Council, has urged the Charity Commission to investigate the sale and to review concerns about potential conflict of interest and whether best value was obtained.

​Cllr Clark said: “In conjunction with this plan, the trustees have started a new charity, too recent to have released a financial update, that, amongst other things, intends to ‘Make Grants To Organisations’.

​“The result would seem to be that the hall will be lost to the Newby and Scalby Community, and no one has any idea of who would be the recipients of these grants.”

​He added that there had been “little communication with community stakeholders” and asked the regulator whether it had received “any complaints or opened any case relating to this charity?”.

​New members of the Newby and Scalby Community Hall Trust said that they when they joined in 2024, they inherited “a number of significant challenges, including property registration matters, increasing compliance obligations and the need for further investment in the ageing building”.

​In a statement issued on Tuesday, the trust added: “Following a detailed review of the charity’s position and after taking professional advice, the trustees concluded that selling the hall building was the most responsible way to protect the charity’s assets and ensure its long-term future.”

​Louise Wilson said: “We’re passionate about creating strong community spaces that people can feel proud of.

(Image: Pic supplied)

​”Wilsons Food Hall is highly valued by local residents – and we want to replicate that in Scalby.

​“Our vision is to expand even further our involvement within the community, and learn from all the engaging and supporting activities and projects already implemented within the Seamer village and its surroundings.

​“The hall will continue to serve as a base for local clubs while also hosting food-related events, community meals, educational workshops and social gatherings.

​”And we want to improve and upgrade the facilities of the hall to provide showering and washing facilities for local sports clubs, such as the Scalby tennis and bowls clubs, giving them a provision similar to that of a clubhouse.”

​

It comes as statistics highlight the issue, with 31,558 domestic abuse incidents recorded by police in Northern Ireland

A “leading voice” in research into ending violence against women and girls has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Ulster University academic Dr Susan Lagdon was singled out for her “exceptional contribution to advancing understanding and prevention of gender-based violence in Northern Ireland”.

It comes as statistics highlight the issue, with 31,558 domestic abuse incidents recorded by police in Northern Ireland in the year to March 31 2026, an increase of 6.1% on the previous year.

Seven women were killed in domestic homicides during the same period.

Dr Lagdon’s work, which includes a particular expertise in coercive control, is credited with having played a transformative role in shaping regional responses, influencing policy development, and elevating public awareness of gender-based violence.

Her Every Voice Matters: Violence Against Women in Northern Ireland report, commissioned by The Executive Office, draws on the lived experiences of more than 540 women to explore the prevalence and impact of under-reporting of violence.

She built on that work by developing the Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (HSKT) Coercive Control public awareness campaign, with support and collaboration from colleagues at the university and from The Executive Office.

It is accompanied by in-person training and a HSKT toolkit for professionals, and has been described as having strengthened public understanding of coercive control while enhancing the capacity of organisations and practitioners to respond effectively.

Dr Lagdon said it is a “tremendous honour to receive this recognition and to see the work acknowledged in such a meaningful way”.

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our society, impacting individuals, families, and wider communities,” she said.

“The progress we have made has only been possible through the dedication of so many people.

“Research, collaboration, and strong partnerships have been at the heart of our efforts to drive change and make a difference.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and deeply grateful for the support, commitment, and shared purpose that have made this work and recognition possible.”

Professor Paul Bartholomew, vice-chancellor of Ulster University, hailed the recognition as “richly deserved”.

“Her pioneering research and steadfast commitment to tackling gender-based violence have already made a real and lasting difference across Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Through her work she is ensuring that evidence informs action, and she is giving a voice to those who need support in order to live safe and fulfilling lives.”

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

‘I love being part of such a helpful, professional, hard-working and happy team at UTV’

One of the longest-serving newscasters in the UK has said she feels “privileged” to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

UTV newsreader Rose Neill, 68, paid tribute to her “professional, hard-working and happy” colleagues as she was made an MBE for her services to broadcasting and to charity.

Neill is a veteran of broadcasting, being a presence on TV screens across Northern Ireland for more than four decades.

She began her career in 1977 as a children’s television presenter on UTV, and later moved to a role as a newscaster.

In 1985 she became an anchor for BBC Northern Ireland, going on to be one of its longest-serving newsreaders in her tenure that lasted until 2008.

In 2014 Neill joined Paul Clark in presenting UTV Live, describing the network then as her “television home”.

The broadcaster is also the honorary vice-patron of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and the chairwoman of the Riding for the Disabled Association in Northern Ireland.

Neill said she was “genuinely surprised and grateful” to have been included in the recognition.

“I have learned so much from some wonderful colleagues in television news over 49 years at both UTV and the BBC,” she said.

“I have also been inspired by lots of genuine people in various charitable organisations over the years.

“I love being part of such a helpful, professional, hard-working and happy team at UTV.

“Collectively, they deserve a great deal of credit themselves.

“My sons and sister and my dear friends have supported me during my career.”

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

The crash was reported on the M6 close to junction 30 with the M61 near Preston on the evening of Friday June 12.

Members of the public reported passing what appeared to be the scene of the accident at just after 7pm that evening.

Travel service Inrix said: “Slow traffic and three lanes closed due to accident on the M6 Northbound at J30 M61.”

Emergency services were on the scene (Image: Public)

Images from the scene appear to show emergency services including police traffic officers attending the motorway.

They appear to show a badly damaged car that seems to have crashed into the central reservation of the motorway.

A car was reportedly badly damaged (Image: Public)

Members of the public have been advised to always take care when using busy motorways.

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.