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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Notable Cumbrians named in King's Birthday Honours list
A number of notable people from north Cumbria have been included in His Majesty The King's 2025 Birthday Honours. People who have demonstrated extraordinary service in public and communal life, who are dedicated to improving the lives of those around them are recognised nationally through the Honours system. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott celebrated those representing the county in this year's list. Kevin Walsh is recognised in the Honours list (Image: Supplied) He said: 'It's a moment of great pride for our county to see so many Cumbrian residents recognised in HM The King's Birthday Honours. 'I'm especially pleased by the number of recipients this year, it reflects the depth of commitment, compassion and service that runs through our communities.' The people receiving honours from north Cumbria, or who have links to the area, are as follows: Paul Caldwell. Chief Executive Officer, Rural Payments Agency. For services to Agriculture and to Rural Areas. (Carlisle) - CBE Richard Alan Warren. For services to Mountain Rescue in Cumbria and the Lake District (Workington) - OBE Nicholas James Barrett. Lately Chief Executive Officer, The Outward Bound Trust. For services to Outdoor Education. (Penrith) - MBE Douglas Kerr. Founder, Solway Aviation Museum. For services to Aviation Heritage. (Carlisle) - MBE Claire Render. Chief Executive Officer, The Good Shepherd Multi Academy Trust, Cumbria. For services to Education. (Wylam, Northumberland) - MBE Robert Walker. Neurodiversity Network Founder, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to Neurodiversity. (Penrith) - MBE Margaret Hartley. For services to the community in West Cumbria. (Whitehaven) - BEM Mr Kevin Walsh. For services to the community in Carlisle. (Carlisle) - BEM Douglas Kerr (left) has been recognised in the Honours list (Image: Supplied) Mr Scott added: 'Being awarded an Honour is a truly significant achievement, and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those named. 'Each of them has gone above and beyond, often without seeking any recognition, and their dedication is an inspiration to us all.' Anyone can nominate someone for a UK Honour through the 'open access' system and awards are given to people from all walks of life. The final decision as to who receives an honour is first decided by an Honours Committee and their recommendations go to the Prime Minister and finally to HM The King for approval. Mr Scott said: 'I would also encourage everyone to think about who they might nominate in the future. 'The Honours system depends on public nominations, and by putting someone forward, you help ensure their extraordinary contributions are seen, celebrated and valued.' The process can take up to 18 months with recipients of honours announced in HM The King's New Year's Honours List and Birthday Honours List. Nomination forms and advice on how to complete them are available through the Cumbria Lieutenancy website.
ITV News
13-06-2025
- General
- ITV News
South of Scotland and Cumbria recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list
People from Cumbria and southern Scotland have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours. Among those selected from our region are people who have dedicated their time to community services, sports, performing arts, nature and agriculture. Professor Vernon Gibson, from Ambleside, is awarded a knighthood for his services to Science and Defence. He served as Chief Scientific Adviser at the MoD on two separate occasions. Eleven other people have been honoured with CBEs, OBEs and MBEs by the King for their achievements. Cumbria: Paul Caldwell CBE, from Carlisle, for services to agriculture and to rural areas in his role at Rural Payments Agency. Richard Warren OBE, from Workington, for services to Mountain Rescue in Cumbria and the Lake District. Richard says it's "great to be honoured" for his decades of hard work within the rescue service. He said: "There's been some really challenging times. You know, dealing with some of the fatalities is really, really desperately sad with the families. "It's great to be honoured by it, but you know, there's team members out there that do a phenomenal amount of work behind the scenes. I always feel for the team leaders who are up all night talking people off the mountains." Nicholas Barrett MBE, from Penrith, for services to Outdoor Education in his role at Outward Bound Trust. James Batchelor MBE, from Kendal, for services to technology for older people in his role at Alertacall. Douglas Kerr MBE, from Carlisle, for services to aviation heritage as founder of the Solway Aviation Museum. He said: "It really came as a really big surprise to me, but you know, I'm really pleased. Well, who isn't pleased that they get an MBE? And it's for, you know, the building of and saving aviation for the country, you know, and for the future people to see. "They said that the Palace will get in touch within six weeks. And then we'll find out where we're going to go, whether we're going to go to Windsor or whether we're going to go to Buckingham Palace. "I've got to choose it. Is Buckingham Palace better than Windsor?" John Cairns MBE, from Sedbergh, for services to public transport as founder of Western Dales Bus. Mark Todd MBE, from Kendal, for services to sailing and to young people in his role at the Association of Sail Training Organisations. Robert Walker MBE, from Penrith, for services to neurodiversity in his role as Neurodiversity Network Founder. Jeremy Wilson MBE, from Windermere, for services to indoor climbing as founder of The Lakeland Climbing Centres. Southern Scotland: Mariella Marzano OBE, from Peebles, for services to forestry in her role at Forest Research. Scottish historian Alistair Moffat MBE, from Selkirk, Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, for his services to literature and culture in his role as Founder of Borders Book. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This year's Birthday Honours List is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country. "From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.' The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, says he's "delighted to congratulate all those recognised". He said: 'The Honours list showcases the remarkable achievements of individuals across Scotland who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields. "Their service to our communities represents the spirit of dedication and excellence that makes Scotland proud."
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Quangos tasked with deciding farmers' futures allowing staff to work from other side of the world
They are the bureaucrats charged with protecting Britain's natural environment and those who toil away on it. Yet while hard-pressed farmers face an uncertain time thanks to Labour's inheritance tax plans, staff at three rural-focused quangos have been logging in to work from the other side of the world. An investigation by the Daily Mail has discovered taxpayer-funded staff at Natural England, NatureScot and the Rural Payments Agency have worked from Asia, North America and even Australia. Bosses at the three bodies – which employ about 6,000 staff and receive hundreds of millions of pounds of Government cash a year – have allowed employees to work abroad more than 300 times in the last three years, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Staff were allowed to spend at least 1,174 days working abroad, although the total figure is expected to be much higher given NatureScot refused to provide the full information. Natural England, which added £100million to the bill for HS2, building a bat tunnel because the creatures are protected, was involved in 150 approvals, totalling nearly 1,000 days. This included 20 separate foreign stints each lasting at least ten days – the equivalent to two working weeks – with one staff member logging in for 15 days from Egypt. One employee at the York-based organisation was allowed to work from Australia for seven days, while Natural England also allowed eight staff to spend at least ten days working from Slovenia. Another was permitted to spend ten days in France, Belgium and Germany and someone spent nine days in Japan. The largest period of working away for a member of Natural England staff was a 28-day stint in Ireland. That was a drop in the ocean compared with the time a member of staff with the Rural Payments Agency, the body repeatedly castigated for the failure to pay farmers the subsidies they were owed on time. The body has a number of UK regional offices. Its data showed a geospatial services team member, who is listed as a senior executive officer, spent from August 5 last year to January 3 this year in Germany, accounting for 66 working days. Another spent 14 days in Sweden. NatureScot, based in Inverness, would only reveal there were 137 approvals granted in the last three years. This included nine trips to the US, two to Canada and India, and a stint in Chile. Alex Burghart, shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: 'One wonders how much work will get done on the beach.' A Tory spokesman said: 'Those making peoples' lives a misery should at least live with the consequences rather than swan off to far-flung corners of the globe.' A Natural England spokesman said: 'As the Government's adviser on the natural environment, we provide practical advice, grounded in science, on how best to protect and restore our natural world. 'On occasion, staff are required to work abroad for business reasons, including attending international conferences such as COP16.' An RPA spokesman said: 'Staff are required to travel overseas for official government business – helping the RPA in its role to deliver a range of services to farming and rural businesses.' This year, the Mail revealed a senior executive at crisis-hit Windsor council was working from Kyrgyzstan.
