Honours awarded to people across region (From Gazette & Herald)

Honours awarded to people across region

THE man who spearheaded a major Yorkshire regeneration group heads the list of Yorkshire folk celebrating awards in this year's New Year's Honours list.

A knighthood has been awarded to Graham Hall, the chairman of Yorkshire Forward.

Mr Hall, the son of a coal miner, rubs shoulders with a milkman, a folk singer and a national park warden in the list of Yorkshire men and women whose achievements have been recognised by the Queen.

Mr Hall has chaired the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward since 1999. Last year he was appointed a non-executive director to the Court of the Bank of England.

He has spearheaded a number of high-profile regional initiatives, including unveiling a ten-year plan in 2000 that was aimed at creating 150,000 jobs.

North Yorkshire football magnate Bob Murray scored a goal of his own in the New Year's Honours list - netting a CBE.

Mr Murray, the Sunderland Football Club chairman, who lives at Crayke, near Easingwold, has been awarded the honour for his services to the football club and the community.

As well as running Sunderland AFC, Mr Murray is chairman of Sterling Capitol and Omega PLC. His charity work includes the Sunderland AFC Foundation, which is dedicated to helping children's health and education.

Richard Morris, of Harrogate, has been awarded the OBE for services to archaeology.

Mr Morris, a trustee of York Archaeological Trust, took part in the major excavations at York Minster in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He also helped set up the York branch of the Council for British Archaeology, in Walmgate, in the early 1990s.

A childhood interest became a career for Trevor King when he joined the North York Moors park rangers.

His passion for the great outdoors was rewarded with an MBE for services to the environment.

Mr King, 62, from Danby, near Whitby, who retired in November after 28 years, said he was absolutely delighted to have been nominated - and totally shocked.

"I have no idea who nominated me," he said. "Not a clue. There are not many rangers in the UK so it's good to get recognition for the service."

Veteran East Riding folk singer Norma Waterson, from Robin Hood's Bay, near Scarborough, has been awarded the MBE.

Norma, whose musician husband Martin Carthy was awarded the MBE three years ago, said the second award made it a "family affair".

She said: "Folk music usually gets the sticky end of the media and it is nice to get some recognition."

The couple's touring group Waterson: Carthy, which includes their daughter Eliza Carthy, is known as the "royal family of folk".

Also receiving an MBE in the New Year Honour's list is Cyril Smailes, of Scarborough, for services to folk dancing.

Come rain, snow or shine, milkman John Williamson has delivered milk to North Yorkshire doorsteps for the past 34 years.

Now residents of villages in and around Easingwold will get their milk delivered by John Williamson MBE, after his dedication was recognised in this list.

John, of Thormanby, delivers to scores of homes on either side of the A19 corridor. His honour was awarded for services to the Husthwaite and Coxwold areas but Oulston, Balk, Carlton Husthwaite and Wass are included on a round that starts at 4am and finishes at 1.30pm seven days a week.

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, January 08, 2003