“I’m disappointed that, despite having those conversations about how to improve other aspects of the deal, that the strikes are still set to go ahead, and I would urge them, even today, to continue that conversation with us about the other aspects of the deal, other than pay, and make that as strong as possible for their members, because that would be for the benefit of resident doctors and all of us as patients.”

Sakilbabu Kola has been awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to export growth.

He was nominated by Veronica Dawson, Member of the Institute of Export.

Mr Kola said: “It was such a shock when I found out. It’s a real honour receiving something that’s so prestigious.

“I’ve not yet letter yet to find out where I’ll receive the award but I’m looking forward to it.”

Mr Kola who works as the Director at Bri-Tek Technologies, also does a lot of work in and around the Bolton community.

“I do a lot of charity work and promote drugs awareness campaigns. I also try my best to keep the streets clean of rubbish and fly tipping. I do whatever I can for my local area,” he said

Other Boltonians recognised include Professor Chris Brookes, Wigan Warriors chair and lately Rugby Football League and England Rugby League chief medical officer, for services to rugby league. He has been awarded an MBE

Karate Instructor Billy Higgins of Sei-Do-Kan Karate Club, for services to karate and the community was also awarded an MBE.

The people of Bolton have a long history with the honours list, with this year’s inclusions joining a long list of deserved Boltonians.

The King’s Birthday Honours are awarded every year to mark the official birthday of King Charles, recognising individuals for exceptional service and achievements.

A host of sporting icons, television stars and community champions from Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

The annual list celebrates hundreds of people across the UK for their contribution to public life, from sport and entertainment through to health, education, policing and charity, with many honoured for decades of service to their communities.

This year’s list includes figures from some of the biggest sports and entertainment names alongside local volunteers, public servants and campaigners whose work has made a lasting impact across the North West. They are joined by senior leaders in the NHS and education, as well as those recognised for services to business, culture and community.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Oldham’s Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in recognition of the rugby league legend’s fundraising efforts and work supporting motor neurone disease (MND) research and families affected by the condition.

The former Leeds Rhinos captain’s fundraising has raised more than £11 million since being inspired by his friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow’s battle against the disease in 2020.

“My playing career was everything I could ever have dreamed of as a young man but the last seven years have given me so much inspiration,” said Sir Kevin. “The MND community are the very best of us and it has been my privilege to support them and put their battle on the stage it needs.”

Among the other high-profile names recognised is actress Lisa Riley, who receives an MBE for services to drama and charity. The Emmerdale star said “humbled is an absolute understatement” about receiving the honour, describing it as the best possible present ahead of her 50th birthday.

She has also been recognised for her work supporting charities including Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s, SANE and Sue Ryder following the death of her mother from cancer.

Lisa Riley said: “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.”

Former Manchester United and Scotland striker Lou Macari has also been made an MBE in recognition of both his football career and his work tackling homelessness through the Macari Foundation in Stoke-on-Trent.

He said the charity began after he stopped to speak to six homeless people sheltering in a doorway on a cold winter’s night.

“I had no idea where it was going to go from there,” he said. “Hopefully this honour will help increase awareness because although we are still trying and having some success, none of us have found a way to get rid of the problem.”

Meanwhile, Burnley entrepreneur Dave Fishwick, whose life story inspired the Netflix film ‘Bank of Dave’, has been made an OBE for services to finance, business and charity.

Mr Fishwick said: “It’s just wonderful that His Majesty the King has spent some time looking at what we’ve been doing and seen fit to award us an OBE.

“It’s just unbelievable. And from a lad from Burnley, who set off with absolutely no qualifications whatsoever – I left school at 16, absolutely useless.”

Prominent regional figures whose work spans healthcare, policing, education and community activism, have also punctuated the list. Among them is Terry Woods, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, who has been an officer for 30 years and has now been awarded a CBE.

He is the UK’s most experienced Deputy Chief Constable and the National Police Chiefs Council’s lead for Police Driving. GMP said 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 whilst protecting the public when driving in response to an emergency.

“I am extremely humbled and proud to be receiving an honour from HM 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,” Terry Woods said.

“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.”

Also recognised is Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer Anjum Malik, who reflected on a lifelong commitment to storytelling and inclusion, saying she is “deeply honoured and humbled” to be recognised.

Before becoming a writer and lecturer, she joined West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police Force at nineteen as its first British Pakistani female police officer, later working as an interpreter and adviser with police forces, courts, immigration services and community organisations across the UK.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive an MBE for services to British South Asian arts,” Anjum said. “My first thoughts are of my parents, Abdul Latif Malik and Imtiaz Tahira Malik who came from Pakistan and made enormous sacrifices so their children could have opportunities they never had. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine.

“Throughout my life, whether as a police officer, interpreter, writer, poet, lecturer or community practitioner, I have been inspired by people whose stories are often overlooked. I have been fortunate to work with communities and groups across the UK and beyond, and I am deeply privileged and grateful and to the many people who have trusted me with their experiences, memories and stories.”

In healthcare, midwife Benash Nazmeen and co-founder of the Association of South Asian Midwives described the MBE award as carrying generational meaning. She said her recognition belongs as much to the communities and midwives who came before her as to her own work improving maternity care.

She said: “As the granddaughter of a village midwife, I am reminded of the generations who came before me and the opportunities they never had. This recognition feels meaningful not only for my own journey, but for theirs too.

“As co-founder of the Association of South Asian Midwives, I have had the privilege of working alongside communities and healthcare professionals committed to equity, representation and support for those too often overlooked. This recognition belongs equally to them.”

NHS leadership figure Sara Barr-Frost said the MBE recognition was “an enormous honour”, adding that it belongs to nurses across the system who “work around the clock” to deliver care.

She added: “I am grateful for the richness of the career I have had. None of it would have been possible without the incredible people who championed me, believed in me, and supported me.

“This recognition belongs to nurses everywhere. So many of us work around the clock, giving everything we have, day in and day out to make a difference to people’s lives, to families and to communities. I hope this moment shines a light on just how extraordinary our profession is, and on all the remarkable people within it.”

Dr Maxine Lilian Power, former Director of Quality, Innovation and Improvement at North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and now at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has also been awarded The King’s Ambulance Service Medal for Distinguished Service.

During her time in NWAS, the NHS said she strengthened patient safety, improved services, introduced digital innovation and established the trust’s first improvement academy. She also championed staff support during COVID and helped establish the NWAS Women’s Network.

In sport, Wigan Warriors’ Chris Brookes said receiving an MBE was “the highlight of my professional life”, reflecting on decades in rugby league across Wigan and beyond.

Advertisement

“It has been a privilege to work with so many amazing people and I am grateful as well as humbled that my efforts have been considered worthy of this recognition,” Prof Brookes said. “To have received this news just after Orrell St Peter’s, Wigan Warriors Women’s and Men’s Teams have been successful at Wembley has made it extra special.

“Wigan has been an important part of my life for the past 20 years and I am massively proud to represent Wigan Rugby League as Chairman.”

Luke Georghiou, Professor of Science and Technology Policy and Management at The University of Manchester, has also been awarded an OBE. The university said the honour recognises his contribution to science, innovation and public service in the North West and beyond.

Advertisement

Responding to the recognition, he said: “It has been a privilege to support and guide so many hugely talented people and to help develop Manchester’s outstanding innovation ecosystem.”

Below is the full list of recipients from Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.

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

Serena Margaret Kennedy KPM DL. Lately Chief Constable, Merseyside Police. For services to Policing. (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

Knights Bachelor

Kevin Sinfield CBE. Coach, England National Rugby Union Team and Fundraiser. For services to Rugby League, Rugby Union and the MND Community. (Oldham, Greater Manchester)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Cheshire

Professor Ian David Abrahams. Professor, University of Cambridge. For services to Mathematical Sciences. (Nantwich, Cheshire)

Lancashire

Professor Paul Jonathon Taylor. Police Chief Scientific Adviser, National Police Chiefs’ Council. For services to Science in Policing. (Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire)

Terence Woods QPM. Deputy Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police. For services to Policing. (Darwen, Lancashire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Greater Manchester

Carl Andrew Cox. DJ and Broadcaster. For services to Music. (Horsham, West Sussex)

Professor Luke Gregory Georghiou. Lately Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester. For services to Science and Innovation. (Stockport, Greater Manchester)

Professor Janet Margaret Lord. Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University and Independent Chair, Priority Area. For services to Education. (Widnes, Cheshire)

Janette Luca. Director of Public Affairs, ITV. For services to Broadcasting and Television. (Stockport, Greater Manchester)

Cheshire

Paul Jason Franklin. Visual Effects Designer and Filmmaker. For services to Visual Effects Design and the International Motion Picture Industry. (London, Greater London)

Joanne Irving. Commercial Director, UK Export Finance. For services to Government Procurement. (Chester, Cheshire)

Dr Geeta Kumar. Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board North Wales. For services to Women’s Health. (Chester, Cheshire)

Professor Janet Margaret Lord. Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University and Independent Chair, Priority Area. For services to Education. (Widnes, Cheshire)

Peter Michael James McCleave. Founder, 10,000 Donors. For services to Blood Cancer Awareness and to Charity. (Tarporley , Cheshire)

David Stuart Pinder. Chair, Green Construction Board. For services to Advancing Net Zero and Biodiversity in the Construction Sector. (Macclesfield, Cheshire)

Peter Joseph Wheeler. Councillor, Cheshire West and Chester, Labour Party. For Political Service. (Ellesmere Port, Cheshire)

Lancashire

Professor Graham Baldwin. Vice-Chancellor, University of Lancashire. For services to Higher Education. (Carnforth, Lancashire)

Andrea Elaine Bennett. Regional Probation Director, North West Probation HM Prison and Probation Service. For services to Probation. (Preston, Lancashire)

The Reverend Elizabeth Amy Carnelley. Lately Director of Partnerships and of Near Neighbours, Church Urban Fund. For services to Community Cohesion. (Burnley, Lancashire)

David Fishwick. Entrepreneur and Founder, Burnley Savings and Loans. For services to Finance, to Business and to Charity. (Clitheroe, Lancashire)

Advertisement

Maria Louise Lane. Deputy Director for People Safety, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to People Safety and Wellbeing. (Blackpool, Lancashire)

Jonathan David Lutwyche. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Yordas Group. For services to Sustainable Chemicals Management, to Economic Growth, to International Trade, and to Advancing Opportunities for Women and Young People. (Lancaster, Lancashire)

David Read. Head of Delivery North West, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. For Public Service. (Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire)

Rebekah Warburton. Deputy Director for Health Transformation and Delivery, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service. (St Annes on Sea, Lancashire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Greater Manchester

Esther Anne Barratt. Group Director, Amentum. For services to Nuclear Power Engineering. (Stockport, Greater Manchester)

Professor Christopher Brookes. Chair, Wigan Warriors and lately Chief Medical Officer, Rugby Football League and England Rugby League. For services to Rugby League. (Bolton, Greater Manchester)

Professor Dafydd Gareth Richard Evans. Emeritus Professor of Medical Genetics, University of Manchester and Consultant in Medical Genetics, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Cancer Genetics. (Mold, Clwyd)

Heather Joanne Harrison. Data Assurance Manager, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence. (Stockport, Greater Manchester)

Sakilbabu Vali Kola. Founder and Director, Bri-Tek Technologies LTD. For services to Export Growth. (Bolton, Greater Manchester)

David Nathan Leighton. Administrative Officer, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to the community in the North West. (Whitefield, Greater Manchester)

Lou Macari. Lately Footballer and Founder, Macari Foundation. For services to Association Football and to Homeless People in Stoke-on-Trent. (Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire)

Anjum Nahid Malik. Writer and Lecturer. For services to British South Asian Arts. (Manchester, Greater Manchester)

Benash Nazmeen. Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives. For services to Charity and to Healthcare. (Manchester, Greater Manchester)

Michael Phipps. Communities Strategic Lead, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit. For services to Young People. (Cranage, Cheshire)

Beena Puri-Dayalji. Digital Equity Senior Principal, Greater Manchester Combined Authority. For services to Digital Inclusion. (Manchester, Greater Manchester)

Lisa Jane Riley. Actor. For services to Drama and to Charity. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)

Abigail Shapiro. Co-Founder, The Tutor Trust. For services to Education. (Prestwich, Greater Manchester)

Dr Anthony Michael Whelan. Youth Football Coach, Manchester United Football Club. For services to Association Football. (Sandbach, Cheshire)

Cheshire

Geoffrey Walter Ball. Owner, F.Ball and Co.Ltd. For services to Manufacturing, to the Flooring Industry and to the community in Staffordshire. (Macclesfield, Cheshire)

Nicholas John Bent. Chief Executive Officer, upReach. For services to Education. (Warrington, Cheshire)

John Morris Jones. For services to the Heavy Goods Vehicle and Logistics Industry. (Ellesmere Port, Cheshire)

Michael Phipps. Communities Strategic Lead, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit. For services to Young People. (Cranage, Cheshire)

Elizabeth Jane Prince. Business Manager, Amiqus, Founder, G into Gaming and Co-Founder, Empower Up. For services to the Games Industry and to Diversity. (Crewe, Cheshire)

Dr Anthony Michael Whelan. Youth Football Coach, Manchester United Football Club. For services to Association Football. (Sandbach, Cheshire)

Lancashire

Sara Jane Barr-Frost. Deputy Chief Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Officer, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and lately Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS. (Preston, Lancashire)

Advertisement

Alan William Cavill. Director of Communications and Regeneration, Blackpool Council. For services to Regeneration in Blackpool. (Thornbury, Lancashire)

Lee Kevin Carsley. Coach, England Men’s Under-21 Football Team. For services to Association Football. (Solihull, West Midlands)

Victoria Jayne Eccleston. Senior Probation Officer, National Probation Service. For services to Women on Probation. (Preston, Lancashire)

Dr Howard Greenwood. For services to Nuclear Waste Management. (Carnforth, Lancashire)

Dr Nicola Jayne Robinson. Volunteer Chair and Lead Coach, North West Pentathlon Hub. For services to Pentathlon. (Accrington, Lancashire)

David Paul Snape. For Parliamentary and Political Service. (Adlington, Lancashire)

Dr Karen Ann Whittaker. Senior Education Lead, Institute of Health Visiting. For services to Health Visiting. (Preston, Lancashire)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Greater Manchester

Alison Mary Brittle. Founder, Director and Chair of Board, Saddleworth Hydro. For services to the community in Saddleworth. (Oldham, Greater Manchester)

David Mark Green. Duty Manager, Transport for Greater Manchester. For services to Diversity and Inclusion in Manchester. (Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire)

Joanne Green. For Parliamentary and Political Service. (Denton, Greater Manchester)

William Peter Higgins. Instructor, Seidokan Karate Club. For services to Karate and to the community in Wigan. (Bolton, Greater Manchester)

Steven Lowe. Foster Carer, Wigan Council. For services to Foster Care in Wigan, Greater Manchester. (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

Wendy Jayne Lowe. Foster Carer, Wigan Council. For services to Foster Care in Wigan, Greater Manchester. (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

Regina Parveen Oliver-Lawlor (Rosina Oliver-Lawlor). For Parliamentary and Political Service. (Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester)

Jeffrey Sean Picton. District Commissioner. For services to Scouting and to the community in Wigan, Greater Manchester. (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

Claire Marie Robinson. Foster Carer, Birmingham Children’s Trust. For services to Foster Care in Birmingham. (Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester)

Irfan Aslam Syed. Councillor and Chair, Salford Forum for Refugees. For services to Refugee Resettlement. (Eccles, Greater Manchester)

John Stuart Turner. Adult Instructor, Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force. For voluntary services to Young People and to Charitable Fundraising. (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

Cheshire

Frances Blackburne. North West Regional Manager, Newbloom Healthcare Limited. For services to Nursing and Elderly Care. (Ellesmere Port, Cheshire)

Brian Charlton Heald. For services to Music and to the community in Chester, Cheshire. (Chester, Cheshire)

Pauline Patricia Knifton Hough. For services to Theatre and to the community in Nantwich. (Nantwich, Cheshire)

Georgina Annabel Wynne Lewers. For services to Charitable Causes and Fundraising. (Chester, Cheshire)

Dr Katie Louise Misselbrook. Consultant Anaesthetist, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Children and Young People. (Chester, Cheshire)

Clare Elizabeth Olver. Programmes Manager, Community Forest Trust. For services to Community Forestry. (Warrington, Cheshire)

Josef Matthew Taylor. Consultant Surgeon, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Children and Young People. (Warrington, Cheshire)

Lancashire

Laszlo Robert Fossett Endresz. Circus Performer and Producer, Blackpool Tower Circus. For services to Circus Entertainment in the North West. (Blackpool, Lancashire)

Leslie Alan France. Swimming Coach. For services to Swimming and to the community in Wigan. (Blackpool, Lancashire)

Nicholas Kevin Davis Ward. For services to the community in Over Kellet, Lancashire. (Carnforth, Lancashire)

King’s Police Medal (KPM)

John Christopher Sykes. Assistant Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police. (Greater Manchester)

Writer Julia Donaldson, Clyde 1 staple George Bowie and Hoops legend Lou Macari have all been recognised.

Several Scots have been named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, including The Gruffalo author, a radio DJ and former Celtic star.

Writer Julia Donaldson, Clyde 1 staple George Bowie and Hoops legend Lou Macari have all been recognized for their extraordinary achievements and/or community service to the British public in the list.

The Glasgow-based author who has written more than 200 books including The Snail And The Whale, Room On The Broom, Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler, The Scarecrows’ Wedding and The Highway Rat, is made a dame in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to literature.

Dame Julia, 77, has sold more than 50 million books worldwide and last year supplanted Harry Potter writer JK Rowling as the UK’s all-time top author in terms of units sold. She said she owes much of her success to her childhood library and the librarian who fostered her love of reading.

“Receiving this honour has been a very happy surprise,” Dame Julia said. “It’s really gratifying to have children’s books recognised in this way.

“I’m so grateful for all the enthusiastic support I’ve had during my career from people in the book world – those in the very many libraries, schools and bookshops I’ve visited over the years, my wonderful illustrators, the publishers and literacy charities I’ve been involved with, and of course my readers.

“Going back further, perhaps my biggest debt of all is to the library which was in walking distance of my childhood home and the librarian who helped me discover the books and authors that I came to love.

“Without that place and person I probably would never have become a children’s writer – let alone a dame.

“So I’m making a plea to the Government for more libraries and more librarians in our communities and schools, so that the current generation of children can enjoy all the benefits that reading brings.”

Radio presenter George Bowie, who has hosted a breakfast show for nearly three decades, has said he is “delighted” to become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to radio and charity in the west of Scotland.

Bowie At Breakfast has long been a fixture on Clyde 1 and next April will mark 30 years of the DJ presenting the show live.

The 58-year-old famed for the GBX has long attended charity events across Scotland without accepting any fee. He has done high-profile work with the charity Cash For Kids and has helped social groups receive more than £1 million in grants.

Born in Greenock, Bowie first began working in radio in the late 1980s. He said: “Everybody got their own radio show apart from me, so that made me all the more determined. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

His breakfast show means he gets up at 4am daily, though the presenter says his programme “doesn’t feel like work”.

He continued: “I had my time going out clubbing when I was younger. Now I have an excuse to leave early – I’m going on the radio. I’m lucky enough to work with a great group of people.”

Bowie first became involved in charity work as his younger brother is severely disabled. He currently does around 50 charity gigs a year for various causes.

Reflecting on the MBE, he said his 88-year-old mother Betty was overjoyed to hear of his nomination, adding: “I can’t describe what this means to her.”

He said the honour is “amazing” even if others are more deserving, saying: “I’m delighted to receive it.”

Ex-Celtic player Lou Macari has also received an MBE for services to football and fighting homelessness.

He set up the Macari Foundation to help combat homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent in 2016.

The former Manchester United and Scotland star established the Macari Foundation after recognising the scale of the housing problem in the town.

Following a playing career that peaked with spells at Celtic and Old Trafford as well as a place in Scotland’s 1978 World Cup squad, Macari went on to manage Stoke in two spells between 1991 and 1997, and made his home in the town.

Macari told the Press Association: “It all started when I saw six homeless people in a doorway in Stoke on a cold winter’s night and went over to speak to them.

“I told them I would try to help them, I went to the council, got the keys to a property they had repossessed, and quite simply that was the start of it all.

“I had no idea where it was going to go from there. Hopefully this honour will help increase awareness because although we are still trying and having some success, none of us have found a way to get rid of the problem.”

Lucina Hackman, professor of forensic anthropology at the University of Dundee, said she is “honoured” to have been given a damehood in the King’s Birthday Honours. And Professor Andrew Morris of the University of Edinburgh praised the “extraordinary strength of medical science” as he is honoured with a knighthood.

Legendary actress Dame Helen Mirren has also been made a Companion of Honour for services to drama in the King’s Birthday Honours. The rare accolade recognises service of national importance and is limited to just 65 people at any one time.

Also receiving awards are two-time Ryder Cup winning captain Luke Donald, snooker World Championship finalist Shaun Murphy and DJ Carl Cox, who got OBEs. Television presenter Anneka Rice received an MBE.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

Those include Professor Carlos Silvestre Frenk, a Durham University scientist, who is one of the originators of the Cold Dark Matter theory for the formation of structure in the Universe, Allison White, a Newton Aycliffe cancer survivor who set up a support group and Faye Marsh, a Darlington council worker who has changed the lives of a countless number of children in their most vulnerable hours.

The King issues the honours list to publicly recognize and reward exceptional achievements, bravery, and selfless service to the nation. It is a centuries-old tradition that celebrates “extraordinary people” from all walks of life, including local community volunteers, charity workers, innovators, and public figures.

We have compiled a list of all the recipients of awards from the list across the North East and North Yorkshire.

County Durham

• Professor Carlos Silvestre Frenk CBE FRS (Knighthood) Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University.
  For services to Astrophysics and Cosmology – Durham
• Rhiannon Jane Hiles (CBE) Chief Executive, Beamish Museum.
  For services to Museums and to the Culture and Heritage of North East England – Durham
• Dr Colin Mark Richardson (OBE) – Assistant Professor, Northumbria University.
  For services to Firefighter Safety – Lanchester
•  Dr Martin Raby (OBE) – Principal and Chief Executive, The Northern School of Art, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, North Yorkshire and County Durham.
  For services to Higher Education – Cleveland and County Durham
• John Michael Pearce (OBE) – Lately Director of Children’s Services, Durham County Council. For services to Children and Young People – Durham
• Sundas Khalid (MBE) – Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives.
  For services to Charity and Healthcare – Darlington
• Graeme Michael Black (MBE) – Risk Advisory Assurance Lead, Department for Work and Pensions.
  For services to Young People in the community of Durham – Chester-le-Street
•  Shirley Kathryn Smith (MBE) – Founder and Trustee, If U Care Share Foundation.
  For services to Suicide Prevention – Chester-le-Street
• Reuben Kench (MBE) – Chair, Stockton and Darlington Rail Heritage Partnership.
  For services to Heritage – Stockton and Darlington
• Allison White (BEM) – Founder, Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group.
  For services to Supporting People with Cancer (Aycliffe, County Durham)
• Faye Marsh (BEM) – Peer Mentor Manager, Darlington Borough Council.
  For services to Children and Young People in County Durham – Spennymoor and Darlington
•  Adrian Richards (BEM) – Police Community Support Officer, Durham Constabulary.
  For services to the community in Chester-le-Street, County Durham – Ferryhill
•  Richard Starrs (BEM) – Project Manager, Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary.
  For services to Heritage – Stockton and Darlington

North Yorkshire

• Ashley John Machin (CBE) – Lately Lead Non-Executive Director, Department for Work and Pensions.
  For Public Service – Ripon
• Rachel Anne Hollis (OBE) – Lately Chair, Professional Nursing Committee, Royal College of Nursing and Honorary Nurse Advisor for Children’s Cancer Care, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
  For services to Nursing – Ripon
• Linda Maragret Harrison-Simcock (OBE) – Foster Carer, Children’s Services, Leeds City Council.
  For services to Foster Care and to Vulnerable Children – Keighley
• Diane Margaret Heritage (OBE) – Chair of Trustees, New Collaborative Learning Trust.
  For services to Education – Selby
• Allison Kathryn Louise Potter (MBE) – Manager, National Literacy Trust Middlesbrough Hub. For services to the community in Middlesbrough – Guisborough
• Elizabeth Culshaw (BEM) –
  For services to the community in Ingleton, North Yorkshire – Carnforth

North East

• Christopher John Mullin (Knighthood) – Former MP for Sunderland South
  For Political and Public Service – Alnwick
• Samantha Jane Allen (CBE) – Chief Executive, NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
  For services to the NHS – Morpeth
• Bernard John ORD (OBE) –
  For services to Industry, to Charitable Causes and to the community in Teesside – Middlesbrough
• Alice Witherow (OBE) – Chief Executive Officer, Cheviot Learning Trust, Northumberland. For services to Education – North Tyneside
• Dr Ian Ritchey FREng (OBE) – Director, Connect Northumberland.
  For services to Engineering – Newcastle
• Alyson Lynn Scurfield (OBE) – Chief Executive, TEC Services Association.
  For services to Technology Enabled Care – Newcastle
• Dominic Robin Crofts Llewellyn (OBE) – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AchieveGood. For services to the Impact Economy – Newcastle
• John Philip Birkett Marshall (OBE) – Lately Chair, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative.
  For services to the Local Economy in the North East – Morpeth
• Brenda Gillian Bland (MBE) –
  For services to Swimming in Great Britain – Hartlepool
• Paul Anthony Mackings (MBE) –
  For services to Business and the community in the North East of England – Sunderland
• Nigel Frederick Coates (MBE) – Lately Director of the Business Clinic, Northumbria University.
  For services to Higher Education and to Business – Newcastle
• Alison Dunn (MBE) – Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Gateshead and Executive Director, Society Matters CIC.
  For services to the community in the North East of England – Newcastle
• The Reverend Canon Glyn Evans (MBE) –
  For services to the community in Morpeth, Northumberland – Morpeth
• Margaret Anne Lester (MBE) – County Adviser and lately County Commissioner, Girlguiding Durham North and Northumberland.
  For services to Girlguiding – Bambugh
• Geoffrey Hill (BEM) – Chair, RAF Middleton St George Memorial Association.
  For voluntary services to Aviation History – Stockton
• Caroline Tyerman (BEM) – Lately Lead Practitioner, SEND and Inclusion, Brougham Primary School Hartlepool.
  For services to Education – Hartlepool
• Stephen Bunn (BEM) –
  For services to Stroke Victims and to the community in Cleveland, North Yorkshire – Redcar
• Debra Jayne Padgett (BEM) – Pathology Network Operational Lead and Clinical Pathology Lead, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
  For services to Biomedical Science in the NHS – Whitley Bay
• Richard Anderson (BEM) – Customs Control Framework Risk and Controls Lead, Borders and Trade, HM Revenue and Customs.
  For services to Charity – Gateshead
• Lynn Hope (BEM) – Lately Head Coach and Manager, Northern Hope Gymnastics Club.
  For services to Inclusive Gymnastics – Washington
• Barbara Scrimshaw (BEM) – Fundraising Organiser, The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.
  For Charitable Service – Alnwick

Nationally, 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.

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

Those include Professor Carlos Silvestre Frenk, a Durham University scientist, who is one of the originators of the Cold Dark Matter theory for the formation of structure in the Universe, Allison White, a Newton Aycliffe cancer survivor who set up a support group and Faye Marsh, a Darlington council worker who has changed the lives of a countless number of children in their most vulnerable hours.

The King issues the honours list to publicly recognize and reward exceptional achievements, bravery, and selfless service to the nation. It is a centuries-old tradition that celebrates “extraordinary people” from all walks of life, including local community volunteers, charity workers, innovators, and public figures.

Here are 13 of the people from County Durham named on the King’s Birthday Honour List 2026:

Professor Sir Carlos Frenk (Image: DURHAM UNIVERSITY)

Professor Carlos Silvestre Frenk CBE FRS (Knighthood) Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University.
For services to Astrophysics and Cosmology – Durham
– Professor Frenk is one of the originators of the Cold Dark Matter theory for the formation of structure in the Universe. Working with scientists across the world he uses high-power supercomputers to build model universes, based on the known laws of physics. The techniques developed by Sir Carlos and his collaborators are now commonly used by cosmologists to explain the formation of the galaxies and other large-scale cosmic structures that we see in the Universe around us.

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

Rhiannon Jane Hiles (CBE) Chief Executive, Beamish Museum.
For services to Museums and to the Culture and Heritage of North East England – Durham

• Dr Colin Mark Richardson (OBE) – Assistant Professor, Northumbria University.
  For services to Firefighter Safety – Lanchester
•  Dr Martin Raby (OBE) – Principal and Chief Executive, The Northern School of Art, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, North Yorkshire and County Durham.
  For services to Higher Education – Cleveland and County Durham
• John Michael Pearce (OBE) – Lately Director of Children’s Services, Durham County Council. For services to Children and Young People – Durham
• Sundas Khalid (MBE) – Co-Founder and Director, Association of South Asian Midwives.
  For services to Charity and Healthcare – Darlington

Graeme Black MBE (Image: GRAEME BLACK)

Graeme Michael Black (MBE) – Risk Advisory Assurance Lead, Department for Work and Pensions.
For services to Young People in the community of Durham – Chester-le-Street
– Graeme Black, who is a Business Ambassador with Durham Works and provides career coaching, enterprise sessions and various events for secondary school children has received a Member of the Most Excellent Order (MBE) award which he calls an “incredible privilege”.

•  Shirley Kathryn Smith (MBE) – Founder and Trustee, If U Care Share Foundation.
  For services to Suicide Prevention – Chester-le-Street
• Reuben Kench (MBE) – Chair, Stockton and Darlington Rail Heritage Partnership.
  For services to Heritage – Stockton and Darlington

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)

Allison White (BEM) – Founder, Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group.
For services to Supporting People with Cancer (Aycliffe, County Durham)
– Allison White, was diagnosed with cancer back in 2009, and realised how lonely it can be. This fuelled her to set up the support group that provides transport for cancer patients to and from appointments, so they have that support system.

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

Faye Marsh (BEM) – Peer Mentor Manager, Darlington Borough Council.
For services to Children and Young People in County Durham – Spennymoor and Darlington
– Faye Marsh works for Darlington Council and has helped a countless amount of children across the region, going through the toughest as times. She said she was ‘shell shocked’ when she first realised she had been nominated.

PCSO Adrian Richards on patrol in Chester-le-Street (Image: DURHAM COSTABULARY)

 Adrian Richards (BEM) – Police Community Support Officer, Durham Constabulary.
For services to the community in Chester-le-Street, County Durham – Ferryhill
– Adrian Richards, a County Durham community police officer, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his work in the community which he calls a “great achievement”. Mr Richards has held a free activity week for underprivileged families for two decades to address a rise in anti-social behaviour during the school summer holidays.

•  Richard Starrs (BEM) – Project Manager, Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary.
  For services to Heritage – Stockton and Darlington

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.

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

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that a string of famous faces were last being honoured, but King Charles III has once again decided who will receive the prestigious awards in the 2026 Birthday Honours list.

It acknowledges long-term volunteers, innovators, entrepreneurs, individuals displaying “moral courage”, those making a difference in their community or field of work or people improving life for others less able to help themselves, with the latest list acknowledging 1,182 recipients from every part of the UK.

Honours are given to people involved in a range of fields, including sport, health, science and technology, education, business, and the arts and media. Gallantry awards recognising bravery can also be given to members of the armed forces and the emergency services, as well as civilians.

They are awarded by the King following recommendations by the Prime Minister or senior government ministers. Members of the public can also recommend people for an award, with the nominations typically making up about a quarter of all recommendations.

And while every day heroes are recognised, those in the world of acting, music and sport are also given nods. But some big names have declined the award for various reasons.

Some did so due to their personal beliefs, others because they didn’t feel that the award was deserved. Below are some of the people who have declined an honour from the Royal family:

David Bowie

The Ziggy Stardust star was public about why he didn’t want to accept a knighthood. 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.”

On Sir Mick Jagger’s acceptance, Bowie maintained a diplomatic stance, saying: “It’s not my place to make a judgment on Jagger – it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.”

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

The comedy double act were offered OBEs “for services to comedy drama” back in 2001, but declined them. Explaining why, Saunders later 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.”

Nigella Lawson

Advertisement

The iconic TV chef shared a similar reason for declining her OBE in 2001. She said: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.”

Stephen Hawking

The famous astrophysicist revealed in 2008 that he had been offered a knighthood in the 1990s, a higher honour than the CBE he held, but turned it down. While the exact reasons are not clear, it was suggested later that government funding cuts to science may have been a factor.

John Lennon

At first Lennon accepted an MBE, but decided to return it in 1969 as a stand against Britain’s foreign policy. He wrote: “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.”

George Harrison

In 2000, the former Beatle declined an OBE, not long after his fellow Beatles alumnus Paul McCartney was given a knighthood. The reason is not exactly clear, but some have suggested it was connected to McCartney receiving a knighthood.

“Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive,” Harrison’s mate Roy Connolly dished to the Independent. “George would have felt insulted – and with very good reason.”

Benjamin Zephaniah

Iconic poet, who died in December 2023 at the age of 65, made clear his reasons for publicly rejecting an OBE in 2003. He said he would decline the award in protest against British government policies and the British Empire.

Writing in the Guardian, he said how the word ’empire’, which is included in the title, “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”. Zephaniah described himself as “profoundly anti-empire”.

Michael Sheen

Star of screen and stage Michael Sheen was awarded an OBE in 2009. However in 2017 he made the decision to return the aware after researching the history between England and Wales.

In 2020, he told the Guardian’s Owen Jones: “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,’”

John Cleese

Monty Python star John Cleese was offered a CBE in 1996, but dismissed it as ‘silly’. In 1999 he was on the table for a peerage courtesy of Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown.

But Cleese was not keen as being a working peer would require him to overwinter in the UK. He described this as “too much of a price to pay”.

Paul Weller

The music legend politely declined a CBE in 2006. His representative noted in a statement: “Paul was surprised and flattered but it wasn’t really for him.”

Roald Dahl

The renowned children’s author, famous for enchanting tales such as ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘James and the Giant Peach’, declined a knighthood offered in the 1986 New Year’s honours. The revelation came through a Telegraph freedom of information request, but the justification for his refusal wasn’t disclosed.

Bernie Ecclestone

The ex-chief of Formula One Group refused an honour in the early 2000s. In a 2019 interview, he explained that while he was pleased to have done some good, his primary motivation in business wasn’t to earn accolades, so he didn’t believe he deserved the honour.

Jon Snow

Advertisement

The face that used to front Channel 4 News, not the Game of Thrones bloke. He gave a polite ‘no thanks’ to an OBE in 2000 and went full snoop two years later with a doc called Secrets of the Honours System. Snow said: “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,”.

Ken Loach

Director Ken Loach, who is famous for his gritty films on difficult subjects such as poverty, bid goodbye to an OBE in 1977. In 2001 he explained why to the Radio Times.

“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,” he said. “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.”

Danny Boyle

Fellow director Danny Boyle had a different reason for turning down his award, which he was offered for his role in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. Explaining why, Boyle said he felt it “was wrong” for him to take credit for a collective effort, saying that “it’s not just me” and the ceremony was the result of the hard work and contributions of thousands of people.

“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.”

LS Lowry

The renowned painter is said to have rejected more honours than anyone else, including a knighthood, a CBE, and an OBE. His friend Harold Riley disclosed that Lowry was a private man who didn’t want the attention or to change his name, which played a part in his decision to turn down 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

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.

Jim Broadbent

The national treasure snubbed an OBE in 2002, explaining that he couldn’t reconcile with actors receiving Royal accolades. “I think [honours] ought to go to those who really help others,” he mentioned in a chat with the Telegraph. “Besides I like the idea of actors not being part of the Establishment. We’re vagabonds and rogues.”

Broadbent also expressed his unease with the honours’ undercurrents, revealing: “I don’t think the British Empire is something that I particularly want to celebrate.”

Albert Finney

He shunned both a CBE in 1980 and a knighthood two decades later. The Bourne actor lambasted the honours system, terming knighthoods as a symptom of sickness that “perpetuates snobbery”.

Andrew Davies

The Welsh scriptwriter famed for House of Cards and his version of Pride and Prejudice, reportedly refused an honour, though his motives remain undisclosed.

Alan Rickman

The cherished actor is believed to have declined a CBE during his lifetime. He never disclosed why, and after his death, there has been a movement seeking to award him a knighthood posthumously, but no progress on this has emerged.

John Lydon

Otherwise known and Jonnie Rotten, the former Sex Pistols front man was offered an MBE. Given the band’s repertoire, including ‘God Save the Queen’, it’s no surprise he said no.

The village is only accessible by boat or via an 18-hour hike over mountains.

With World Cup fever strong this year as Scotland once again makes it to the group stages of the tournament after 28 years, the majority of Scots are wanting to catch a glimpse of the action – even if the first game does begin at 2am UK time.

Wanting to soak up the shared atmosphere of national pride and excitement, many people will be heading to late night pubs or watch parties to watch Scotland’s opening game against Haiti take place this weekend. And it seems even the most remote parts of the country are getting in on the action.

Thanks to Specsavers, which is the official eye and ear care partner of the Scottish Football Association, the remote village of Inverie has been given its very one fan zone so the locals don’t need to miss out on any of the football action.

Inverie is located in the Knoydart Peninsula in the West Highlands and is definitely not the easiest to get to. The only ways to access the village is either by boat or via an 18-hour hike over the mountains.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the World Cup

This isn’t the first time that the village has gone the extra mile to watch the football as in 1978, ahead of the World Cup in Argentina, it was reported that 15 villagers dug up a four-mile trench and laid a cable in it just to ensure they could get a television signal to watch Scotland’s matches.

Now almost 50 years on, and nearly three decades since Scotland were in the group stages, Inverie has once again captured the same spirit, but with an extra helping hand this time around.

Specsaver has transformed the village hall into a big-screen fan zone to allow the community to come together and watch the matches. The 100-inch screen, along with a full-scale production setup, has been ferried across the peninsula just in time for the first match on Sunday morning.

With a population of just 100 people, the locals of Inverie will now be able to rally behind Steve Clarke in a shared moment many of them won’t forget.

In the lead up to the opening match, the event will also have complementary food and drink available, as well as some live music to help keep the party going into the wee hours of the morning.

This event will be a full circle moment for 66-year-old John Murdo Morrison as he was one of the locals who had dug uphill to set up the village aerial back in 1978.

Advertisement

Only 18-years-old when he helped complete the mammoth task, he shared that he is feeling just as excited now as he did all those years ago.

John said: “What we did in 1978 was special and the whole village is excited to be watching Scotland at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

“We’re delighted to have Specsavers and their team here to set up the fan zone and we’re glad our digging days are behind us. It was an incredible and challenging experience but all worth it to watch Scotland at the World Cup in Argentina.”

He added: “Hopefully Steve Clarke and the team can do us proud in America.”

Specsavers’ Scottish divisional chair, Laura Baird, said: “It was inspiring to hear the story of John and the 15 villagers of Inverie from the 1978 World Cup. The lengths Scottish people are willing to go to watch our national team never ceases to amaze me and I just hope we’ve helped make things a little easier this time with our fan zone!”

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of our diet. They provide nutrients and fibre, and many contain additional compounds (known as bioactives) that can improve health. But not all foods are created equal – with big differences in the amount of bioactives we get from cabbages, carrots, pulses and peppers.

The well-known “five-a-day” campaign forms the basis of current dietary recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption. The campaign focuses mainly on reminding people to consume at least five portions of fruits or vegetables each day.

This is a sensible approach, because it’s always better to eat some fruits and vegetables instead of none. But could we do better? Could choosing fruits and vegetables more carefully help us to get important bioactives from our foods?

My latest research suggests this is the case. We found that following current dietary recommendations might not be good enough when it comes to getting these important, health-boosting bioactive compounds from fruits and veggies. This could have particularly important implications for heart health.

In the study my colleagues and I conducted, we specifically investigated flavanols. This group of bioactive compounds are found in many plant-based foods, including tea, apples and berries.

Flavanols have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. About 500mg of flavanols per day are enough for most people to see health benefits from flavanols.

We wanted to find how many people eat at least 500mg of flavanols per day – and whether these are the people who eat their five-a-day and follow dietary recommendations.

To do this, we did not rely on food diaries or dietary questionnaires – methods that are known to be unreliable. People often forget what they’ve eaten, and the flavanol content in food is very variable.

Instead, we measured flavanol intake directly, using a biomarker in urine that reflects what the body actually absorbed. We did this in around 30,000 participants across two large studies in the UK and the US.

À lire aussi :
A whole new way of doing nutrition research

Our findings revealed there was good and bad news. The good news was that it’s perfectly possible to get 500mg of flavanols per day from a normal diet. The bad news was that fewer than one in five participants actually did this – even among those who ate their five a day.

This is not surprising. Many fruits and vegetables do not contain a lot of flavanols. Cauliflower, carrots or cucumber, for instance, don’t contain any, while mangoes, medlars and kiwis only very small amounts. When choosing a random selection of five fruits or vegetables, it’s very unlikely that they’ll add up to 500mg a day.

Another surprising result was that there was a big difference between participants in the US and UK.

US participants were more likely to get their daily flavanol intake if they followed US dietary recommendations (which are similar to the UK’s fruit and veg recommendations) – although only one in five did so. Around 20% of US participants consumed 500mg of flavanols daily.

But in the UK, the opposite was true. Only about 10% of those who consumed their recommended five portions a day also consumed 500mg of flavanols. Yet this number was closer to 20% in those who did not follow these recommendations.

We also found that those who reported eating the smallest amount of fruits and vegetables daily had the higher flavanol intake.

There may be a couple of key reasons for these findings.

There are some key differences between the two studies: the UK participants came from the Epic Norfolk study, which was designed to be representative of the general public. The baseline diet data we used was collected in the 1990s. In contrast, the US participants of the Cosmos study were recruited in the 2010s and generally had a better diet than the population average.

But if we look at just the UK cohort alone, the explanation for the disparities in flavanol intake can be found in a cup of tea. Literally.

Tea is a great source of flavanols, and a few cups of tea daily can already provide 200-300mg. In a country where tea is a staple, this can make an important contribution. It’s not surprising that the UK has one of the highest flavanol intakes in Europe.

In countries where coffee is the staple drink – such as the US – tea consumption is often associated with an overall healthier diet. But this is not the case in the UK, where tea is not a marker of a particular healthy – or unhealthy – lifestyle. Indeed, people with high tea consumption don’t eat more fruits and vegetables than others.

Although tea is not part of any dietary recommendations, it may be the main driver for flavanol intake in the UK. This means that a good cup of tea may do more for flavanol intake than a randomly chosen portion of fruit or veg.

What does this mean?

People who follow current dietary recommendations are unlikely to consume a sufficient amount of flavanols. It’s likely the same applies to other bioactives, such as carotenoids, (which can support vision).

There’s also huge variability in the bioactive content of different fruits and vegetables. A random selection of five fruits and veg each day is unlikely to provide meaningful amounts.

This isn’t surprising, as bioactives are generally not part of dietary recommendations. But our increasing understanding of the important role of bioactives in disease prevention and public health raises the question of whether this should change.

Five-a-day guidance continues to be an important dietary recommendation, especially as most of us do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. But as we learn more about the benefits of different plant compounds, we should consider prioritising consumption of certain fruits and vegetable daily to increase intake of these compounds. Whether you manage two portions or five, choosing wisely makes a difference.

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.