A MAN involved in the restoration of York Minster, cyber security specialist and volunteer with a children’s charity have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Michael D’Arcy Benson, from Westow, is the receive an MBE for outstanding service on behalf of York Minster.

Michael was Chief Executive Officer of York Minster Revealed, the £20 million restoration and conservation project from 2011-2016 which included the restoration and conservation of the Minster’s 600 year-old East Front and Great East Window, the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the country.

He said: “The medal isn’t for me, it’s for the people who did the work,” he said. “Work has been done with great skill – all I had to do was smile at people.

“I see this is a medal for the whole York Minster Revealed project,” he added. “It’s a fantastic achievement and a magnificent effort. I’m just the person who goes down to the palace to get it – I’m the lucky one.”

The Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York, said Michael’s oversight of the project and the York Minster Fund came at a critical phase in the Minster’s history.

“Michael is a classic change-maker: effective, insightful and inspirational, with a clear vision, enormous energy and the force of personality needed to keep such a complex and important project on track. The transformative effect of York Minster Revealed will resonate for many years and the award of this MBE is testament to Michael’s part in that story.”

David Rogers, a former pupil at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering, was also awarded an MBE for services to cyber security

David is the author of the UK’s Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security. Published in October 2018 it provides invaluable guidance, for all parties involved in the development, manufacturing and retail of consumer Internet of Things (IoT).

In addition to his work on the Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security, David chairs the mobile industry’s GSMA Fraud and Security Group and sits on the Executive Board of the IoT Security Foundation. He teaches part-time at two universities, lecturing on Mobile System Security at the University of Oxford and as a Visiting Professor in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics at York St John University.

He said: “There are many talented and passionate individuals involved in cyber security around the globe. From the security researcher community - the hackers of the world - to those in government departments, academia and my own company, Copper Horse. Much of this work goes unsung, yet it doesn’t go unnoticed. All these people are collectively working to highlight insecurity and trying to improve technology around IoT.”

“My role in securing technology is only a tiny part of that overall effort. I am delighted and honoured to be awarded this MBE for services.”

Retired nursery director Sylvia Tiffney has been awarded an MBE in for services to young children.

Sylvia, of Appleton-le-Moors, is joint owner of the children’s house nursery, Stallingborough near Grimsby with her twin sister Theresa Ellerby. She has been recognised with the honour in acknowledgement of her lifetime’s achievements through her career and voluntary work in supporting children in their early years with the charity National Day Nurseries Association.

She said: “ I’m truly overwhelmed to have received this honour, completely surprised and very happy. This wouldn’t have happened without my incredible sister and co-director Theresa and an amazing team of people working with us. I have had the privilege to work with many early childhood educators over the past forty years. I would like to accept this honour on behalf of them and the thousands of children and families I have had the pleasure of knowing and being with in that time. I hope this honour goes a small way to raising the profile and the status of working with young children.”