HM The King's 1st Birthday Honours List recognises extraordinary individuals helping to combat major challenges of our time

HM The King's 1st Official Birthday Honours List has been announced, marking the incredible public service of individuals from across the UK, in the year of the Coronation.

More than 1,000 recipients have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all sectors and parts of the UK, including with a renewed focus on those who have had a profoundly positive impact on how society faces up to the most challenging issues of the modern era.

Individuals have been recognised for being inspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and philanthropists, this includes other significant contributions relate to the provision of high quality healthcare and education. Not forgetting individuals whose actions have helped tackle crime, or supported families to contribute to society, including helping children achieve their potential.

Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon. Oliver Dowden MP said:- "This year's honours list is a testament to ordinary people who have demonstrated extraordinary community spirit, and I pay tribute to all those who have been recognised today. Our honours system has long been a way of recognising people who make an incredible contribution to life in Britain and beyond. We are now focussed on levelling up the system to ensure it represents the length and breadth of the country, and I hope that the fantastic stories this year ensure more Regional nominations in the future."

Sheila Reith has been recognised for her contribution to the world of medicine with a CBE for her work in leading the development and pioneering the use of the 1st insulin injection pen, an action from which she subsequently made no financial gain. Her contribution has changed the way hundreds of millions of people have lived with diabetes ever since.

Philip Cook, a military veteran, of Stockton on Tees is receiving an OBE for work which helped turn around the fortunes of several colleges across northern England. Paul Harvey has been awarded an OBE for raising more than £1.5 million for dementia services after being diagnosed with the condition.

Tackling crime, supporting families to contribute to society and helping children.

Suzanne Oldnall, who has worked tirelessly to support domestic abuse victims in Worcester including through the establishment of a drop-in centre, is receiving a BEM.

Recipients who typify the volunteering theme include Trevor Gomes, who is receiving an MBE for his work establishing a youth mentoring programme which equips young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills needed for the world of work and higher education.

Suzanne Jacqueline Richards from Wednesbury in the West Midlands has received an MBE after setting up a charity for the families who have lost loved ones in traumatic circumstances such as murder and terrorism. She set up Smile for Joel up after losing three family members in the 2015 Tunisia terror attacks.

Inspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and philanthropists have received Honours in this year's List, with Yulian Topazly receiving an MBE for her work helping more than 10,000 women into sustainable employment while George Imafidon who, aged 27, receives an MBE for a grassroots social enterprise he co-founded which brings together young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and employers looking to attract diverse talent.

The 'Big Help Out' saw millions of people volunteering in their communities on the weekend of the Coronation and those themes are also seen in this year's List. Examples can be found of extraordinary voluntary and community service, including people involved in Operation London Bridge and the associated security operations.

The oldest recipient, Joan Willett is 106 years old and receives a BEM for her charitable fundraising for the British Heart Foundation. The youngest recipient is Junior Jay Frood who is 18 years old and receives a BEM for services to vulnerable children.

Volunteer work related to the war in Ukraine is also recognised in this year's list, including an MBE for Dr Alice Good who founded Sunflower Sisters, an organisation which provides matching services and ongoing support for Ukrainians after they arrive in the UK, and Bristol's Razvan Constantinescu who will receive an MBE after overseeing more than 4,000 boxes of aid for the people of war torn Odessa and the neighbouring villages who have evacuated to neighbouring countries.

Well-known recipients include Davina McCall for her esteemed career as a broadcaster and campaigner, actress and presenter Vicky McClure for her groundbreaking dementia campaigning where she's shone a light on the positive impact of music therapy on dementia sufferers, and footballer turned pundit Ian Wright for services to charity and Association Football.

The List also awards 3 Companions of Honour; of which there are only 65 recipients at any time; Dame Anna Wintour, for her services to fashion and publishing, Sir Ian McEwan for his service to literature and Professor Sir John Bell, for his services to medicine and medical research.

The Prime Minister is determined to make sure that honours represent the length and breadth of the country, so that the honours system captures and celebrates the fantastic contribution of people from every corner of the UK.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour and we call on people from across the UK who know someone who has achieved fantastic things to go to:- Gov.UK to find out more about how they can put someone forward.

Scales tip over for 20,000 of Year 6 children in Region

NEW figures released show that the number of children in Year 6 across the North West classified as obese have risen dramatically since the Pandemic. The news comes as the NHS revealed its plans at the annual NHS Confed Expo Conference, in Manchester, to open up an extra 10 clinics across the country to provide expert intensive support to children and young people with obesity.

The Gov report, analysed by the eating disorder experts at the UK Addiction Treatment Group, shows that in the North West:- 14,340 Year 6 children were classed as obese, in 2019/20, before the Covid Pandemic hit. This equated to an average 23% of children measured that year who were obese.

New figures show this count has rocketed by:- 40%, to 20,010, Year 6 children classified as obese, in 2021/22, averaging out at 25% of those measured being obese.

The majority of obese Year 6 children in the North West are boys:- 8,105, in 2019/20, rising to:- 11,395, in 2021/22.

As it stands, 75% of all Year 6 boys in the North West are obese.

The new initiative launched by the NHS is backed by £18 million over the next 2 years, and will double the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan to introduce 15 new obesity clinics in England.

NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard announced at the Expo that:- "doing nothing is not an option" and that earlier intervention can prevent long term health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

Further analysis of the Government's report by UKAT reveals that in 2019/20, just 3,270 Year 6 children in the North West were classed as:- 'severely obese.' This has risen by a staggering 52% in just 2 years to 4,995 Year 6 children in the North West who are currently severely obese. Again, the majority of these (3,030) are boys.

The focus of the NHS obesity clinics is to allow children and young people direct access to:- NHS Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers and most importantly, dieticians who will help provide tailored care and diet plans and lifestyle changes.

The clinics are also intended to identify the factors which cause obesity in the 1st place, something that the eating disorder experts at UKAT are keen to ensure actually comes to fruition.

Nuno Albuquerque, Head of Treatment at the UK Addiction Treatment Group, commented:- "Children and young people should not be obese, as not only does it put a real strain on their physical and mental development, it also embeds really unhealthy relationships with food and body image from a very early age. This is why we're very keen to ensure that the NHS's obesity clinics are not just rolled out as mass:- 'diet plans for kids;' care and caution needs to be in place to ensure that a child does not develop an eating disorder or a body dysmorphic disorder. Ultimately, preventing obesity starts with education, for both the child and their parents, as it will likely be the parents who are the primary providers of what the child is eating on a daily basis. We're hopeful that the NHS obesity clinics will place as much focus on the child with obesity as they do towards educating and encouraging the parents, because the support network is the key to success in young patients."

24/7 confidential help and advice with eating disorders in the North West is now available your Doctor, also on the NHS website.

Help and advice can also be obtained from the charity:- 'Beat Helpline' online or calling them on:- 08088010677.