Local Champions across the North West awarded for "Services to Others" in the King's New Year Honours

PEOPLE from across the North West have been recognised for their selfless service to others this New Year. The King's New Year Honours List includes:- recipients who have made exceptional contributions to their local communities and the country as a whole.

This year, 105 people in the North West have been awarded honours. This makes up nearly 9% of the total number of people who have received New Year honours this year.

The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that honours are awarded to people across the whole of the UK, so that the honours system captures and celebrates the fantastic contribution of people from throughout the country.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:- "The New Year's Honours list recognises the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion. To all honourees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all."

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:- "Everyone from the North West receiving honours today represents the best in British communities. I send my warmest congratulations to this year's recipients, all of whom are incredibly deserving for what they have achieved. If you know someone in your community who has done something extraordinary, nominate them for an honour so together we can recognise what they have achieved."

Sean Balmer has been awarded a BEM for services to swimming in Cumbria. He has transformed Cockermouth Swimming Club into one that has swimmers (both para and able bodied) representing the country in events including:- the Commonwealth Games, Worlds and the Olympics. As a result of his influence, Cockermouth Swimming Club, which is run completely by volunteers, finished 10th overall in the National Youth Championship.

Graham Walter Hundley has been awarded a BEM for voluntary service to the British Red Cross, where he has volunteered for over 60 years. He has been a driving force behind the organisation's Emergency Response in Cumbria initiative, which responds to emergencies such as flooding as well as building community resilience. During Covid19, he coordinated NHS volunteers from his home, rostering them into two Hospitals, sorting medical records, organising PPE and staffing the meet-and-greet service.

Helen Walton has been awarded a BEM for services to children in care and children in poverty. She set up the Rochdale Giving Back charity 10 years ago and runs an annual Toy Appeal to ensure children in poverty and children in care don't go without presents at Christmas. In 2022, she met unprecedented demand by driving up promotion of the Appeal and donated over 5,000 toys.

Elizabeth Gorb has been awarded an MBE for services to education and skills. Elizabeth is a leading UK champion for degree apprenticeships, having developed them at Manchester Metropolitan University since 2012. Under her leadership, the university has grown from offering 1 qualification to 58 apprentices at 15 employers to a suite of 18 programmes, 2324 apprentices and 557 employers.

Penelope Kirby has been awarded an MBE for services to mountain rescue in the Lake District. She has given outstanding service to the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team for nearly 40 years and has attended over 700 rescues, giving selfless service as a rescuer, search dog handler and advanced 1st aider.

Michael Eakin has been awarded an OBE for services to music and the community in Liverpool. He has been Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, one of the UK's most forward looking music organisations, since 2008. Music and mental health work has flourished under his leadership; Liverpool Philharmonic and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust have been working in partnership for over 11 years, delivering programmes in Mersey Care in-patient settings and the local community.

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service's (MFRS) Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Phil Garrigan OBE has been recognised in this year's New Year Honours List for 2024, receiving the prestigious award of the King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM).

The King's Honours list was announced in The Gazette, the official newspaper of the Crown. A great honour in the Fire and Rescue community, the KFSM is awarded for distinguished service or gallantry.

Phil has had a long and distinguished career in the Fire and Rescue Service, having joined Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in 1990 - working in some of Merseyside's most vulnerable and deprived communities. With this he brings a strong community focus to the Service, recognising the unique position of trust and respect in which the Fire and Rescue Service is held. He uses this standing in the community, alongside the professionalism of Merseyside FRS staff, to tackle the real underlying factors which affect risk in Merseyside's communities.

His vision, drive and ambition has seen Merseyside achieve the lowest ever number of fire deaths on record, and he has instilled a real sense of investment in the communities of Merseyside within his teams.

CFO Garrigan is also the National Fire Chief's Council (NFCC) Vice Chair and Lead for the Fire and Rescue Service with regard to its work with children and young people; transforming hundreds of lives across the UK through his leadership.

In 2013, Phil rebuilt the UK Fire Cadet movement, a national uniformed youth organisation delivered through all Fire and Rescue Services across the UK. Thousands of children are now Fire Cadets, with 1000 volunteers supporting them and an amazing 45,000 hours of positive social action under their belts. The young people involved have developed skills for life, learning and future employment, whilst acting as a positive force in their own communities.

Phil is also a Trustee at LFC Foundation; Rainbow Education Multi Academy Trust and Cash for Kids Charity, as well as a Board Member at Wirral Youth Zone and the Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. The breadth of his work gives him an almost unique understanding of the sector.

After taking on the role of Chief Fire Officer in 2017 he bucked the trend of cuts to the Fire and Rescue Services nationally and found innovative ways to recruit new firefighters and increase the number of fire engines available, ensuring the continued safety of the people of Merseyside.

In a national capacity Phil provides strategic advice to Government; he and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service coordinate the deployment of national fire and rescue service resources to large scale incidents across the UK. As a result, he has overseen a number of national incidents recently, including:- leading the Fire and Rescue Service's response to Covid19 as the National Fire Gold Commander, as part of his NFCC work. His innovative and effective management of resources ensured Fire and Rescue Services across the UK found the support they needed during this challenging time.

Since taking on the role of Chief Fire Officer he has revised the governance of the Service and introduced a People Plan which reflects his own inclusive management style, involving all sections of the Service in the decision-making process.

Phil also led the Service through successive inspections by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), in:- 2018, 2021, and 2023 respectively.

In 2018, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) achieved 2:- 'Outstanding' ratings; the only Fire and Rescue Service in the country to do so. These, amongst other factors, led to the Service receiving the highest civic honour; the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

Following significant progress in 2021, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service achieved three 'Outstanding' ratings in 2023; Outstanding at preventing fires and other risks, responding to major and multi agency incidents, and making best use of resources.

MFRS was highly commended for its innovative and targeted prevention work, its response to major incidents and for making the best use of its resources to best serve the public of Merseyside.

Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan said:- "I'm very humbled to receive this honour and recognise that it is very much down to the incredible people I work with; people put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and well-being of others; people who face dangerous and unpredictable situations, often risking their own lives to save others; people who get up early and go home late to ensure that our firefighters are safe and our control room team, prevention staff and protection officers can protect the public as only they can. This honour is down to their contribution; their courage and their compassion. It is also a reflection on the unfaltering support I have received from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, they ensured we have developed a national and international reputation; a reputation for making a real difference in the lives of those people we have the privilege to serve. Nowhere is this more evident than in our response to the terror attack on the Liverpool Women's Hospital, the earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco and the war in Ukraine where we coordinated the delivery of over 70 UK fire engines into the most war torn parts of the country. We are a Service that genuinely cares and is unswerving in its commitment to tackle inequality in every aspect of our work. I don't think you can ask for much more than that. Whilst the award of the King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM) is a great personal achievement and one that I will cherish, it is the people I work with and what we have delivered together that I am most proud of. Nothing gets in our way. I am also incredibly grateful to my wife Michelle for allowing me the opportunities in work that many other people aren't afforded. I know my own limitations and I know that they are offset by hard work, accessibility, and unswerving commitment to the people of Merseyside, all of which can come at a cost unless you have someone so understanding as my wife by your side."

Cllr Les Byrom, the Chair of the Fire Authority said:- "The awarding of the King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM) to our Chief Fire Officer is richly deserved and is testimony to his hard work and tenacity. His vision, innovation and unswerving commitment to Merseyside has seen the Authority re-invest in the frontline for the first time in many years and his courage both locally and nationally has seen Merseyside influence at the highest levels in Government, none more so than when leading the sector through the Covid19 Pandemic. We are incredibly lucky to have someone with his integrity and compassion lead our Fire and Rescue Service. The Authority are thrilled by the announcement."

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service provides smoke alarms free of charge to those over 65 or meeting certain criteria. To find out if you are eligible or for free fire safety advice, please call:- 08007315958.

THE Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's Chief Executive, Michael Eakin, is being awarded an OBE in The King's New Year's Honours list for services to music and to the community in Liverpool.

Michael Eakin has been Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic since 2008. The organisation includes the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and associated ensembles and choirs, a substantial music learning and talent development programme, and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. In this role he has led the organisation through significant growth, including a £14m refurbishment of the Hall, sustained growth in audience numbers and in the breadth and ambition of both the Orchestra and Hall concert programmes, and the development of groundbreaking health and learning programmes which continue to benefit the local community.

Michael Eakin commented:- "I am proud and grateful to be awarded this honour. Throughout my career it has been a joy to work in the arts, and nowhere more so than at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. This organisation is central to the cultural identity and life of Liverpool, and, indeed, the UK. It reaches right across our community, entertaining and inspiring hundreds of thousands of people through our concert and learning programmes. Liverpool Philharmonic enjoys immense support from local people and partners, and I can think of no better city in which to lead a music organisation. I am privileged to work with an incredible team of colleagues and this award is as much a recognition for their work and dedication as it is for me."

Louise Shepherd, Chair of the Board commented:- "On behalf of the board, staff members, musicians and friends of Liverpool Philharmonic, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Michael. His unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership has been pivotal to the continued success and growth of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and Orchestra. Through his outstanding work to foster community engagement and expand music educational programs and opportunities for children and young people across the City Region, coupled with further elevating the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's recognition as one of the world's leading Orchestras, Michael has played a crucial role in shaping the Society as one of the UK's leading cultural institutions."

Michael joined Liverpool Philharmonic from Arts Council England, with whom he had been Executive Director North West since 2001. Previously, he was Director of Arts and Leisure for Reading Borough Council, with a portfolio including:- the arts and theatre, libraries, museums and archives, sport and leisure, and tourism.

Photo by Gareth Jones...