Latest news with #'sBirthdayHonours
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Vernon Kay turns down Prince William invite after wife Tess Daly granted MBE
Tess Daly was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting in the Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this month. Vernon Kay reportedly turned down an invite to an event run by the Prince of Wales after his wife, Tess Daly, was awarded an MBE. Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess, 56, was given the honour for her work in television. Prince William left a voicenote with Radio 2 star Scott Mills on Tuesday morning, June 24, inviting him to the show for his Earthshot Prize- an environmental award founded by the Prince of Wales. It came as Scott, 51, was interviewing wildlife expert Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin, who is an ambassador for the prize. In the voicenote, William invited Scott to Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, in November to experience the Earthshot Prize show. William said: "It's going to be a fantastic event, great show." Prince William couldn't resist a cheeky nod to Robert's penchant for peculiar pets, warning: "Just beware Scott, that Robert likes to pull random terrifying animals and creatures out of his pockets while he's on anyone's show and talking to them. So just watch your back at all times that a tarantula or something doesn't suddenly pop onto your desk." Scott brought up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during a banter on Radio 2, inviting Vernon along for the ride with. He said: "So I've just been invited to the Earthshot prize in Rio by Robert Irwin and Prince William. Want to come?" Vernon however, opted against visiting William's project. He said: "Not sure about that. It's a bit far." To which Scott ribbed: "It is quite far and last time I was there, I was on a 23-hour bus on Race Across the World. And that was the bus with the overflowing toilet, good memories." Last year's Celebrity Race Across The World champs, Scott and husband Sam Vaughan, had an epic adventure as they travelled a staggering 7,700 miles from Belém in sunny Brazil all the way to Frutillar in the depths of southern Chile, all on the budget of just one plane fare. Vernon also spilled the beans on his own Brazilian jaunt to the footie-filled World Cup back in 2014, no less than in Rio de Janeiro, reported Edinburgh Live. And there's more good news in the Daly-Vaughan household – Tess beamed as she accepted her MBE earlier this month in the King's Birthday Honours. Tess has hosted Strictly for two decades now, originally with Sir Bruce Forsyth and then alongside Claudia Winkleman. Upon receiving the honour, Tess said it is a "genuine privilege for people to invite you into their living room". She told the BBC she almost missed out on the accolade because the letter was sent to the wrong address. She said: "I don't think I've come back down to earth yet. I didn't see it coming and it almost didn't happen, because the letter went to the wrong address. "And thank goodness, someone very kind found me. And so by the time I got it, I only had, I think it was two or three days left to accept it. "There's a deadline of acceptance. I can't imagine not ever wanting to accept such a wonderful award, but of course I did." Tess and Vernon met while they were working on rival television stations. Their relationship blossomed and they married in 2003 at St Mary's Catholic Church in Horwich, near Bolton. They share daughters Phoebe and Amber together. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Powys County Times
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Beckham humbled by knighthood as King's Birthday Honours list released
Former England football captain David Beckham has said he 'never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour' after being knighted in the King's Birthday Honours. Sir David, who was made an OBE in 2003, receives a knighthood alongside actor Gary Oldman and The Who singer Roger Daltrey. Strictly Come Dancing presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), while there also honours for teenage darts star Luke Littler and his rival Luke Humphries as both are made MBEs. Actress and singer Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods. Sir David, who has been in the running for a knighthood for more than a decade, said in a statement to the PA news agency: 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. 'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true.' He had been on the verge of receiving a knighthood in the 2014 New Year's Honours list but HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. In 2021 it was reported that his finances had been cleared and he was eligible for a knighthood. The day before Sir David was given the honour, he was seen chatting with the King at a St James's Palace ceremony for the monarch's foundation, of which the retired footballer is an ambassador. He has been made a knight for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with Unicef and campaigned with Malaria No More, a charity working to eradicate the disease. Sir David, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, said: 'Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. 'I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. 'It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.' Sir Roger, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognised for services to charity and music, having been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000. He told PA: 'It's strange, it's an experience that I've never had before, I'm very humbled by it.' The 81-year-old led the Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall concert series for more than two decades. 'It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honoured to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honour is really for all unsung heroes,' Sir Roger said. 'It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much.' Daly, 56, who has co-presented Strictly since 2004, and Winkleman, 53, who fronts the hit reality TV show The Traitors, have been honoured for their services to broadcasting. 'This genuinely came as the greatest surprise of my life,' Daly told PA. 'I don't think I've come back down to earth yet. I didn't see it coming, and it almost didn't happen because the letter went to the wrong address. 'And thank goodness someone very kind found me. And so by the time I got it, I only had, I think it was two or three days left to accept it.' Winkleman said she was 'incredibly grateful' to receive the honour, adding: 'I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.' Dame Elaine, 77, was also honoured for her services to charity and music. She told PA of her 'shock' at being made a dame. 'It's all very exciting,' the West End legend said. 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once. I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.' Dame Elaine has presented her BBC Radio 2 show for more than 20 years and has senior roles at two charities – The Children's Trust, a charity for youngsters with acquired brain injury and The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, which supports disabled tennis players. Meanwhile, Sir Gary, 67, who played Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in several of the movies in the fantasy franchise, was recognised for his services to drama. The Hollywood star won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film Darkest Hour. The top gong goes to Sir Antony Gormley, the sculptor behind the Angel of the North, who is made Companion of Honour for services to art. There are only 65 Companions of Honour at any one time. More than 1,200 people from across the UK received honours in the latest list. Political figures named include Penny Mordaunt, who is made a dame. The former defence secretary said: 'It is lovely to be appreciated in this way, and I'm very conscious that everything I have ever got done has been with the help and efforts of others.' Stars of the big and small screen who have been recognised include EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, Academy Award-nominated actress Samantha Morton and Georgia Harrison, a Love Island contestant turned campaigner. Dobson, 76, and Morton, 48, have been made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Best known for playing pub landlady Angie Watts in EastEnders, Dobson has been recognised for philanthropy after years of being patron of charity Thames Hospice. An MBE for Harrison marks another achievement in the year her ITV documentary Georgia Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit came out. She is recognised for services to tackling online privacy after she waived her right to anonymity to campaign following the conviction of her former partner Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear, who shared a private film of them having sex. The TV presenter told PA: 'It means the world to have this kind of recognition, not just for me, but for all the survivors who've been through what I have.' Tracy-Ann Oberman, who has also been in EastEnders, and played Auntie Val in Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, has been made an MBE for services to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. Obermann, 58, said: 'This recognition is deeply meaningful and I'm grateful to all who have supported this journey'. The oldest person on the list is 106-year-old William Irwin. A veteran and the founder of Coleraine Winemakers Club, Mr Irwin was recognised for his services to the community with a BEM. The youngest recipient, 11-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, has been made an MBE for her charity work. Carmela, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest ever MBE for her fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK, for which she has helped raise more than £400,000. In what is thought to be a first for the honours, three members of the same family have been named in the same list. Jenna, her mother Caroline and her father Duncan Speirs have each been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM). The trio founded children's cancer charity Calum's Cabin after Jenna's twin brother Calum died of an inoperable brain tumour aged 12. Campaigners who have fought to tackle the rise of knife crime in the country have also been recognised for their work. Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son was murdered with a ninja sword yards away from his Wolverhampton home has become an OBE, while Alison Madgin, the mother of 18-year-old Samantha Madgin, who was knifed to death in Wallsend, is made an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beckham humbled by knighthood as King's Birthday Honours list released
Former England football captain David Beckham has said he 'never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour' after being knighted in the King's Birthday Honours. Sir David, who was made an OBE in 2003, receives a knighthood alongside actor Gary Oldman and The Who singer Roger Daltrey. Strictly Come Dancing presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), while there also honours for teenage darts star Luke Littler and his rival Luke Humphries as both are made MBEs. Actress and singer Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods. Sir David, who has been in the running for a knighthood for more than a decade, said in a statement to the PA news agency: 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. 'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true.' He had been on the verge of receiving a knighthood in the 2014 New Year's Honours list but HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. In 2021 it was reported that his finances had been cleared and he was eligible for a knighthood. The day before Sir David was given the honour, he was seen chatting with the King at a St James's Palace ceremony for the monarch's foundation, of which the retired footballer is an ambassador. He has been made a knight for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with Unicef and campaigned with Malaria No More, a charity working to eradicate the disease. Sir David, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, said: 'Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. 'I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. 'It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.' Sir Roger, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognised for services to charity and music, having been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000. He told PA: 'It's strange, it's an experience that I've never had before, I'm very humbled by it.' The 81-year-old led the Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall concert series for more than two decades. 'It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honoured to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honour is really for all unsung heroes,' Sir Roger said. 'It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much.' Daly, 56, who has co-presented Strictly since 2004, and Winkleman, 53, who fronts the hit reality TV show The Traitors, have been honoured for their services to broadcasting. 'This genuinely came as the greatest surprise of my life,' Daly told PA. 'I don't think I've come back down to earth yet. I didn't see it coming, and it almost didn't happen because the letter went to the wrong address. 'And thank goodness someone very kind found me. And so by the time I got it, I only had, I think it was two or three days left to accept it.' Winkleman said she was 'incredibly grateful' to receive the honour, adding: 'I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.' Dame Elaine, 77, was also honoured for her services to charity and music. She told PA of her 'shock' at being made a dame. 'It's all very exciting,' the West End legend said. 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once. I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.' Dame Elaine has presented her BBC Radio 2 show for more than 20 years and has senior roles at two charities – The Children's Trust, a charity for youngsters with acquired brain injury and The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, which supports disabled tennis players. Meanwhile, Sir Gary, 67, who played Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in several of the movies in the fantasy franchise, was recognised for his services to drama. The Hollywood star won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film Darkest Hour. The top gong goes to Sir Antony Gormley, the sculptor behind the Angel of the North, who is made Companion of Honour for services to art. There are only 65 Companions of Honour at any one time. More than 1,200 people from across the UK received honours in the latest list. Political figures named include Penny Mordaunt, who is made a dame. The former defence secretary said: 'It is lovely to be appreciated in this way, and I'm very conscious that everything I have ever got done has been with the help and efforts of others.' Stars of the big and small screen who have been recognised include EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, Academy Award-nominated actress Samantha Morton and Georgia Harrison, a Love Island contestant turned campaigner. Dobson, 76, and Morton, 48, have been made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Best known for playing pub landlady Angie Watts in EastEnders, Dobson has been recognised for philanthropy after years of being patron of charity Thames Hospice. An MBE for Harrison marks another achievement in the year her ITV documentary Georgia Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit came out. She is recognised for services to tackling online privacy after she waived her right to anonymity to campaign following the conviction of her former partner Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear, who shared a private film of them having sex. The TV presenter told PA: 'It means the world to have this kind of recognition, not just for me, but for all the survivors who've been through what I have.' Tracy-Ann Oberman, who has also been in EastEnders, and played Auntie Val in Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, has been made an MBE for services to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. Obermann, 58, said: 'This recognition is deeply meaningful and I'm grateful to all who have supported this journey'. The oldest person on the list is 106-year-old William Irwin. A veteran and the founder of Coleraine Winemakers Club, Mr Irwin was recognised for his services to the community with a BEM. The youngest recipient, 11-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, has been made an MBE for her charity work. Carmela, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest ever MBE for her fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK, for which she has helped raise more than £400,000. In what is thought to be a first for the honours, three members of the same family have been named in the same list. Jenna, her mother Caroline and her father Duncan Speirs have each been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM). The trio founded children's cancer charity Calum's Cabin after Jenna's twin brother Calum died of an inoperable brain tumour aged 12. Campaigners who have fought to tackle the rise of knife crime in the country have also been recognised for their work. Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son was murdered with a ninja sword yards away from his Wolverhampton home has become an OBE, while Alison Madgin, the mother of 18-year-old Samantha Madgin, who was knifed to death in Wallsend, is made an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett. Women make up 48% of those honoured, with 11% of recipients are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
King sharing his cancer diagnosis ‘has helped men open up', says BEM recipient
A woman who has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her work with the cancer charity she co-founded after her twin brother died of the illness has said the King being open about his diagnosis 'has been really good for men'. Jenna Speirs, and her parents Caroline and Duncan Speirs, have each been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for the work they have done with the charity they started after Jenna's twin brother Calum died of cancer aged 12. It is the first time three family members have been named in the same honours list. The trio, from the Isle of Bute, started the charity Calum's Cabin after Calum, who had an inoperable brain tumour, died. On being named in the King's Birthday Honours, Jenna, a therapeutic radiographer, said Charles sharing his cancer diagnosis has helped men open up. 'Him being so open about his cancer journey has been really good for men in particular,' Jenna said. 'You see a lot of men sitting alone in the waiting rooms, but now they are chatting more.' During his time in hospital before his death in 2007, Calum told his sister Jenna, now 30, he wanted to start something called 'Calum's Caravan' for children with cancer to spend time away with their families. 'We were very fortunate growing up going on holidays and living on the Isle of Bute, but lots of children in hospital never got to see the outdoors or the sea,' Jenna said. 'It was his idea. He wanted people to be able to take time away.' The Speirs family had planned to start the charity when he recovered from his illness. 'Unfortunately, that wasn't to be,' Jenna said. 'So we started fundraising at his funeral.' Two years later, Calum's Cabin had acquired its first holiday home for families of children being treated for cancer in Scotland to use. Since then, thousands of families have been helped by the charity, which now has several holiday homes as well as flats in Glasgow for hospital patients and their families to stay in if they live further afield. Caroline, 59, Duncan, 63, and Jenna said receiving the medals was 'very special' and dedicated them to Calum. Jenna paid tribute to her brother, saying: 'Calum was the funniest person you'd ever meet. He liked joking with the nurses and he was extremely caring. 'This is not for the three of us,' Caroline said. 'It's for the four of us.'
The Herald Scotland
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Father made OBE for defibrillator campaign after 12-year-old son's death
The Oliver King Foundation has since given out 7,000 defibrillators, and Mr King's campaigning led to the Government ensuring every state school in England has access to one of the life-saving machines. He said: 'Our Ollie was only with us for 12 years but he never let us down once and this is us not letting his name down.' Mr King, 63, said when he first found out he was to be included in the King's Birthday Honours he thought the letter had gone to the wrong address. He said: 'I'm not one for awards, I just want to march on. I'm just a dad, that's it, I'm a dad. 'But, for an OBE to come through – I was cartwheeling in the garden!' He said Oliver was 'very sporty', 'always had a football under his arm' and was about to sign for Everton, but unknown to the family he had a genetic condition passed down from his father which led to his cardiac arrest. Mr King is working to set up a centre to provide testing for all children to see if they have the gene. He said: 'The morning that he had his cardiac arrest he was swimming. 'If you have this genetic condition that's the worst thing you can do… because when you go in the water, you know that little shock, it's an adrenalin rush, and that can send you into cardiac arrest. 'Unfortunately for us, that happened to our Ol.' The foundation has been supported by figures including former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher (Mike Egerton/PA) Since the foundation was set up in 2012, Mr King has personally delivered all the defibrillators to schools, businesses and sporting venues as far north as Stornoway and as far south as Portsmouth. Mr King said 84 lives had been saved with the defibrillators, including a child as young as four. He said: 'When you get the emails through off the parents, I still get the same feeling as though it's the first one. I know it's not a tally but a life has been saved – maybe our Oliver's life would have been saved if someone would have done what we're doing now.' He said the lives had been saved in Oliver's name, adding: 'Not mine, I'm only carrying his torch.' The foundation, which also provides training to use the machines, has received support from former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher, as well as politicians including Liverpool Garston MP Maria Eagle, Lord Mike Storey and Lord Stuart Polak. Mr King, of Childwall, Liverpool, said he had dealt with six prime ministers during his time as a campaigner. He said: 'It's like setting a business up – you could fail or you could march on. In this particular case we marched on and got stronger and stronger and stronger. I don't have a reverse gear.' He said he plans to continue his campaign and is calling for a change in the law which would see defibrillators required in all public buildings, in the same way as fire extinguishers.
