These people from our region have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and service to their community - here are more details about their work.
Here are the stories of just some of the unsung North East heroes who have been recognised for "quietly changing lives and strengthening their communities". Prime Minister Keir Starmer has praised the people who have been named in this year's King's Birthday Honours list.
Some are being celebrated for their exceptional achievements or commitment to charity or community services, while others have shined in their line of work or profession. Those receiving honours in the North East include Barbara Scrimshaw from Northumberland who was awarded a BEM for charitable service after fundraising for the PDSA for 45 years, and is their longest-serving fundraising volunteer.
Elsewhere, Sundas Khalid was awarded an MBE for her work as a dedicated midwife and founder of the Association of South Asian Midwives (ASAM), to establish a supportive network for professionals in the field.
Below, we have featured just some of the inspirational stories of North East award recipients. Among the honours received are MBEs, OBEs, CBEs and BEMs.
Nigel Coates - MBE
Nigel Coates has been awarded an MBE for services to Higher Education and to Business. A Northumbria University academic who founded a pioneering Business Clinic that has connected thousands of students with real-world business challenges has been recognised in The King's Birthday Honours 2026.
Nigel founded the University's Business Clinic in 2013, developing it from initial concept into one of the most recognised real-world experiential learning initiatives in UK higher education. Under his leadership, more than 3,000 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students who study in the University's Newcastle Business School have worked on almost 800 live consultancy projects for external clients.
The Business Clinic model ensures students can gain practical experience while helping businesses, charities, and social enterprises tackle genuine challenges. Clients valued the consultancy reports developed by students during Nigel's time as Director at an average of £5,500 each, meaning Northumbria's Business Clinic provided more than £4.3 million of pro-bono support, with further benefits realised as organisations implemented recommendations over time.
The success of Northumbria's Business Clinic has led to Nigel advising more than a dozen universities in the UK and abroad on how they can establish their own version. The initiative has received a series of national accolades, including the Exemplar Status from the Small Business Charter which recognises the Business Clinic as a benchmark for best practice across the sector, and the Small Business Charter award for Outstanding Support for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.
Nigel retired as Associate Professor and Director of the Business Clinic in 2024 after working at Northumbria for 36 years and retains his link with the University as a Visiting Fellow. He said: "I am genuinely overwhelmed – and utterly surprised – to receive this MBE. It is an honour I hold with enormous pride. But this award does not belong to me alone. Everything we achieved at the Business Clinic was down to a truly wonderful team whom I had the great privilege of leading. I am also deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the University, without which none of this would have been possible. I accept this with a very full heart."
John Marshall - OBE
John Marshall has been given an OBE for services to the local economy. This award acknowledges his long-standing commitment to the growth of the North East's economy, across key sectors including the visitor economy.
John is chair of the North East Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors at believe housing. He is also chair of trustees at the Newcastle United Foundation. He has provided significant governance and charitable leadership across the region, creating a lasting legacy for communities, businesses and future generations.
Since becoming chair of the Chamber's board in September 2020, John has offered invaluable support and constructive challenge to the executive leadership team, helping to elevate the Chamber's standing and influence at both regional and national levels. He said: "Receiving this OBE is a wonderful surprise and deeply humbling. I am proud to have been able to play a small part in supporting the growth, resilience and success of the North East economy. Our region has always been a place of innovation, hard work and ambition, whatever challenges it has faced. Many great people and organisations strive every day to create fresh opportunities, drive investment and strengthen our communities. To have the chance to contribute to that is one of the greatest privileges of my career. I am especially grateful to my family, friends, colleagues and partners for their unwavering support, encouragement and belief over the years. Achievements such as this are never the result of one individual alone, and I am fortunate to work with exceptional people who share a genuine passion for, and belief in, our unique region. Their passion and hard work deserve equal recognition today. They inspire me more than they will ever know. This honour strengthens my commitment to them and to continue championing the North East, its next generation of leaders and businesses who will deliver our future success."
As former chair and non-executive director of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, now Experience North East England, John has played a major role in the growth of the North East's economy, positioning Newcastle and Gateshead as a place to visit, live, meet and invest. He was instrumental in unlocking the untapped potential of the regional visitor economy.
John is also deputy chair of North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and chair of its subsidiary North East Ambulance Service Unified Solutions. Other roles include chair of St Chad's College, Durham University, vice chair of Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, regional ambassador for the King's Trust and Lay Canon of Newcastle Cathedral.
Carlos Frenk - Knighthood
A world-leading Durham University cosmologist behind one of the foremost theories for the evolution of the Universe has been knighted. Professor Carlos Frenk receives the honour of Knight Bachelor for services to astrophysics and cosmology.
Sir Carlos, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics in Durham's Department of Physics, is one of the originators of the Cold Dark Matter theory for the formation of structure in the Universe. Working with scientists across the world he uses high-power supercomputers to build model universes, based on the known laws of physics.
The techniques developed by Sir Carlos and his collaborators are now commonly used by cosmologists to explain the formation of the galaxies and other large-scale cosmic structures that we see in the Universe around us. Sir Carlos is a passionate science communicator contributing to numerous popular science programmes on radio and television while also championing scientific engagement with the public.
His enthusiasm and drive also played an integral role, alongside Durham's Emeritus Professor Alan Martin and the late Professor James Stirling, in the creation of Durham University's Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics. The Ogden Centre is an international centre for research in cosmology, astronomy and particle physics.
Sir Carlos helped secure philanthropic funding for the two buildings that house the Centre, the second one designed by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Professor Sir Carlos Frenk said: "To be knighted by His Majesty The King is a tremendous honour and to say that I am overjoyed is an understatement. I am hugely grateful to my wife, Susan, and my family, my colleagues and students, and to Durham University, all of whom have given me unconditional support over the years, without which this would have never happened. As a teenager I remember being captivated by a night sky alight with stars and I knew then that I wanted to spend my life understanding its origins. To have been able to do that, working alongside some of the world's most talented scientists, has been the greatest privilege."
Adrian Richards - BEM
One of Durham Constabulary's first ever Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) has been recognised for his services to the community of Chester-le-Street. PCSO Adrian Richards has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) after dedicating more than 23 years to tackling anti-social behaviour, problem-solving issues like shoplifting and dog fouling and providing summer activities for thousands of children.
He is a familiar face to many in Chester-le-Street, particularly the town centre, where he has spent much of his time supporting businesses. However, he is possibly best known for organising and hosting the town's annual Activity Week which provides around 25,000 children access to free activities in the summer.
Through much hard work, determination, and a lot of fundraising from Adrian, the event will celebrate its 19th year in the summer. "When I came up with the idea it cost £350 for the first one," he said. "Now it is about £35,000 and all of that is provided by donations and grants. It is months of work, but it is always completely worth it."
This isn't all, Adrian is always on hand to react to any situation. He once performed CPR on a man who had collapsed while he was out and about on foot patrol. His swift actions meant he was still alive on reaching hospital. And for each of the last ten years, he has organised a collection of around 100 donated gifts for him and the Chester-le-Street Neighbourhood Team to hand out to residents of several local care homes who don't have family visiting for Christmas.
Prior to joining Durham Constabulary as a PCSO in 2004, Adrian served in the RAF for 22 years having joined two weeks after leaving school at 16. He has also spent time working in pub and hotel management, as a driving instructor and a store detective.
Outside of work, Adrian has a keen interest in budgies, judging competitions across the world and keeping more than 100 of them in his own aviary. He has been on the National Budgerigar Society committee for several years and was recently awarded its prestigious Silverbird Award to recognise his meritorious service.
"You only get one life; you must do your best with it," he said. "I love what I do, and I am proud to be recognised with the British Empire Medal."
Alison Dunn - MBE
The 56-year-old, of Gateshead, is getting an MBE for services to the community. She built a successful career from an unqualified start at age 16, balancing a high-pressure legal career and two chief executive roles, driven by a passion for advocating for the less fortunate in the North East.
She dramatically turned around a charity appointed as CEO in 2012, transforming it into an award-winning organization that is now one of the largest members of the national Citizens Advice network, supporting over 20,000 people annually by March 2024 with a turnover of £6.8 million. Her influence extends nationally through active engagement on various boards, including her voluntary role as Chair of the Board of Trustees at VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network Northeast).
Appointed as the Poverty Truth Commissioner in Gateshead in 2020, she has delivered practical anti-poverty solutions, such as the annual winter warmer packs and the 'warm spaces' initiative, which she mobilized locally before it became a national phenomenon. She holds a unique shared strategic leadership role between Citizens Advice Gateshead and the Council, which began in 2019, enabling her to enact significant positive changes across the North East.
Margaret Anne Lester - MBE
The 72-year-old, of Northumberland, is being honoured for services to Girlguiding. Over 50 years, she held diverse roles in Girlguiding, from unit leader to national posts, leaving an indelible mark on the movement by creating opportunities and inspiring countless girls and volunteers.
As County International Adviser, she hosted two landmark international camps (Ghana and Canada) and created pathways for girls to participate in overseas trips, ensuring they were well-prepared and culturally aware. She reshaped how Girlguiding approached community service by embedding "community action" into the national programme and pioneering the successful International Community Experience.
She led the 2010 World Thinking Day celebrations as the lead volunteer for "One World, One Beat", a UK-wide performing arts festival that provided a memorable experience for thousands of members. Drawing on her professional expertise as Head of Safeguarding, she was a highly respected trainer, delivering Safe Space training and consistently focusing her greatest impact on mentoring leaders and inspiring girls to believe in themselves, resulting in the Silver Fish award.
Sundas Khalid - MBE
The 29-year-old, of County Durham, is being celebrated for services to Charity and Healthcare. As a dedicated midwife and founder of the Association of South Asian Midwives (ASAM), she became its CEO in 2022 to establish a supportive network for professionals in the field.
The award citation says: "Motivated by witnessing unacceptable care and high mortality rates for South Asian women and babies, her primary goal is to eliminate unconscious bias, racism, and misconceptions within midwifery. Despite cultural taboos within the South Asian community that viewed midwifery as an unsuitable profession, she remains committed to achieving ASAM's objectives and supporting others in the field. Through ASAM and her previous volunteer work with the Maternal Aid Association (MAA), she actively works to educate the South Asian community about midwifery as a career and address cultural taboos in birthing settings. She has organised several key events, including the 'Dark Lens' conferences (2021-2023) which celebrated black and brown excellence in perinatal healthcare, and the South Asian Nursing and Midwifery Conference (2023), the first of its kind in the UK and which focused on perinatal mental health and showcased the voices of South Asian mothers."
Graeme Michael Black - MBE
The 36-year-old, of County Durham, is receiving an MBE for services to young people in the community of Durham. Drawing on his DWP experience leading the Kickstart programme, he volunteers as a Business Ambassador with DurhamWorks to support young people in the North East.
The DurhamWorks programme annually serves 900 primary and secondary school students in the North East combined authority area, focusing on those at risk of disengaging from post-education/training, including those with educational health needs. In his role, he provides career coaching, enterprise sessions, 1-2-1s, mock interviews, and group talks, utilising DWP experience to give practical advice on moving into the world of work.
He uses engaging events like 'Work, Why Bother' and 'Speed Networking' to offer tailored advice on post-qualification pathways and instil confidence in students. The programme has a proven impact, with case studies confirming that 78% of participating students successfully moved into an opportunity post-education, and Graeme is described as an invaluable ambassador for DWP.
Tom Fennelly - MBE
The 79-year-old, of South Shields, is getting an MBE for services to Search and Rescue. He has given over 55 years of exceptional and sustained voluntary service to the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade (SSVLB), a coastal search and rescue unit operating under HM Coastguard.
He has actively participated in countless rescues in all weathers, risking his life, and served as the Honorary Secretary for over 50 years, managing and fundraising to maintain the SSVLB's operations, historic Watch House, and equipment. His personal commitment to fundraising includes cycling 500 miles, and his leadership in organising public open days and heritage tours fosters strong community awareness and engagement.
His dedication extends beyond the SSVLB, including service as a School Governor/Chair of Governors and a central figure in town twinning relationships with Germany and France. He also performs annually at numerous community and fundraising events, including Mayor's Charity and Care Homes, and is an active member of the Roman Catholic community, contributing through writing, Mass readings, and fundraising.
Debra Jayne Padgett - BEM
The 49-year-old, of Whitley Bay, has been awarded a BEM for services to Biomedical Science in the NHS. She has over 25 years of experience in the NHS, culminating in her presidency of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) (2022-23), where she championed quality, innovation, and professional development.
Her leadership has transformed pathology services in the North East and North Cumbria, notably by driving digital advancements, including the successful implementation of digital histopathology reporting tools. As IBMS President, she significantly enhanced the national profile and awareness of clinical laboratory services, securing greater understanding of their vital role in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment effectiveness.
She led the inaugural Quality symposium at the bi-annual IBMS Congress, creating a national platform to champion excellence and drive service improvement across the UK. The citation says: "She is viewed as an inspirational, supportive, and approachable senior leader and a role model for aspiring female leaders and scientists." She holds two honorary fellowships, with Royal College of Pathologists and Academy of Healthcare Science.
Faye Marsh - BEM
The 50-year-old, of County Durham, is receiving a BEM for services to children and young people in County Durham. She has dedicated 25 years to supporting vulnerable children and young people in Darlington, including 21 years as a Personal Advisor for care-experienced children.
She now manages the Peer Mentor programme, acting as a powerful and highly-regarded advocate, providing guidance and stability to children in care and care-experienced peer mentors. Known as a "mother figure" (Mother Faye) by many, she has a deeply personal impact, creating a safe and nurturing environment, and often goes above and beyond her job description to provide support.
The award information adds: "She is the driving force behind the peer mentoring service, building trust through her humility, humour, and heart, and is considered by leaders to be synonymous with being child-centred. Her relational and restorative work has nurtured a cohort of vulnerable young people, building their confidence, encouraging development, and enabling them to provide meaningful support to others."
Barbara Scrimshaw - BEM
The 92-year-old, of Northumberland, is being awarded for Charitable Service. She has fundraised for the PDSA for 45 years, raising over £100k, and is their longest-serving fundraising volunteer.
Her dedication to fundraising, which also included the RNLI, stemmed from her upbringing and practical skills in crafting, knitting, sewing, and baking. She and her late husband, a fellow skilled crafter, began fundraising for the PDSA after their dog, Shep, received charitable veterinary services.
The couple established and contributed to fundraising groups in Leeds, where they helped raise funds for the Leeds PDSA Pet Hospital, and later in Bridlington. Following their move to Alnwick and her husband's passing in 2023, she continues to fundraise for the PDSA and Cancer Research in his memory by selling handmade crafts.
Allison White - BEM
The 49-year-old, of Newton Aycliffe, has a BEM for services to supporting people with cancer. She founded the Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group in 2014, after her own leukaemia diagnosis in 2009, to combat the loneliness associated with the illness and provide local support.
The group, which registered as a charity in March 2020, supports hundreds of patients, carers, and relatives across County Durham, Darlington, and North Yorkshire with confidential emotional support, information sharing, and social activities. She coordinates a team of volunteers to provide free hospital transport for cancer patients and creates handmade chemo bags filled with useful items to make treatment more comfortable.
Her significant fundraising efforts, which have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds, have also secured a donation of a caravan in Redcar and funds for a second in Whitley Bay for respite and led to the opening of a charity shop and advice hub in Newton Aycliffe (2022). Since its 10th anniversary year (2024), the group continues to see increased demand, offering monthly meetings with guest speakers (dieticians, therapists, medical professionals) and demonstrating a commitment to never turn anyone away.
Lynn Hope - BEM
The 70-year-old, of Tyne and Wear, is being given a BEM for services to Inclusive Gymnastics. Lynn transformed Northern Hope Gymnastics Club into an inclusive space for children with special needs and disabilities, promoting training alongside typically-developing peers since 2015.
The award information states: "The number of gymnasts with additional needs has grown significantly, supporting a wide range of needs (e.g., Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, wheelchair users) with bespoke coaching and flexible training environments. In 2023, the club achieved significant success, with four disability partnerships reaching the podium at the Schools National Finals and three gymnasts with disabilities winning medals and a trophy at the NDP Finals."
Lynn created new local competitive opportunities for disabled gymnasts, built strong relationships with special schools (hosting festivals and using Makaton), and is inspiring other clubs to promote wider inclusion. The club has produced disabled young leaders, raised awareness through local press and TV features and serves as a powerful example of how sport can drive social change.
