Queen honours our local heroes
Jun 13 2009 by Robert Weatherall, The Journal
COMMUNITY champions have been rewarded for years of unstinting service to the public.
Unsung heroes from across the region have today been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
A number of people from the North East join stars of the stage, screen and sporting world in being granted a whole host of awards.
An MBE goes to actor James Bolam. The 70-year-old found fame playing Terry in hit comedy series The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? The Sunderland-born actor has worked solidly ever since, most recently in New Tricks.
Among the other famous faces to be awarded honours are golfer Nick Faldo and veteran horror actor Christopher Lee who are both knighted.
OBEs go to Royle Family actress Sue Johnston and actor Alan Cumming.
Football chief and celebrity cook Delia Smith gets a CBE along with hairdresser Vidal Sassoon and Welsh-born actor Jonathan Pryce.
But behind all the big names there are hundreds of ordinary members of the public who have also been recognised for their achievements.
Among them is Gateshead man David Peacock. He has been awarded an MBE for his work at the Wickham Community Garden. But the 65-year-old thought he was getting a bill from the taxman when he was informed of his honour.
He said: “I was at home and the post came through. There was a very official looking envelope and I had been getting a few letters from the taxman. I told her to go ahead and open the letter. She just said ‘I don’t think it is the tax office.”
David, a retired agricultural worker, came up with the idea of redeveloping the Hermitage Garden about eight years ago.
