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KCMG for Terry Waite in King’s Birthday Honours list
TERRY WAITE, who, while a special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the 1980s and ’90s, was held hostage in Lebanon for five years, has been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, published late on Friday evening.
Sir Terry was held hostage in Beirut for nearly five years, captured as he attempted to negotiate the release of hostages held in Lebanon (News, 20 November 2017).
After his release in November 1991, he founded Hostage UK, a charity that supports the families of people taken hostage, and wrote several books, including a humorous account of his trips in the Anglican Communion accompanying Archbishop Runcie (Books, 29 March 2019) and a book of poems and reflections (Books, 24 February 2017).
The Labour MP for Exeter, Ben Bradshaw, is awarded a knighthood for political and public service. An Anglican churchgoer, Sir Ben has been vocal in encouraging the Church of England to move towards allowing same-sex marriage (News, 19 January).
He is currently sponsoring a Private Member’s Bill to allow Church of England priests to solemnise same-sex marriages, though he has acknowledged that it has “no chance of becoming law” (News, 22 March).
There is also a knighthood for Richard Mantle OBE DL, General Director of Opera North, for services to opera (Harrogate, North Yorkshire). Sir Richard is a General Synod member for the diocese of Leeds, and a guardian of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. He was also formerly on the council of the College of the Resurrection, and the finance committee of the Archbishops’ Council.
The Church of England’s Chief Education Officer, Canon Nigel Genders, is appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to education.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s secretary for inter-religious affairs, the Revd Dr Richard Sudworth, is appointed Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to interfaith and cohesion.
Among the other OBEs are the former Clerk of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly, the Revd Dr George Whyte; the opera and choral singer Lucy Crowe (Music, 16 September 2022); and the tenor Nicky Spence (Interviews, 21 February 2022).
The Chaplain of St Andrew’s, Moscow, Canon Malcolm Rogers, is appointed MBE for services to the British and Commonwealth community and to the Anglican Church in Moscow, Russia. His wife, Alison Rogers, is awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the British community in Russia.
Also appointed MBE are the environmental adviser to the Archbishops’ Council, and co-founder and director of the Conservation Foundation, David Shreeve, for services to the environment; the broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson, who was a long-serving presenter of the BBC’s Songs of Praise, for services to people with dementia and their carers; the Rector of St Matthew’s, Shankill, Belfast, and Rural Dean of Mid-Belfast, the Revd Tracey McRoberts, for services to the community; the Revd Stephen Wood, Minister of Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, for services to refugees in Milton Keynes, where he organised a warm welcome, including a widely reported cricket match, for families fleeing Afghanistan; and the Revd Fiona Sample, a priest in the diocese of Newcastle, who is the founder and chief executive officer of The Oswin Project. Her honour is for services to the Rehabilitation of Offenders.
The founder of the Christian charity Hope Health Action (HHA), Carwyn Hill, is appointed MBE in recognition of services to international healthcare, food aid and education. Mr Hill said: “I’m incredibly humbled to have received this award and am delighted to accept it on behalf of everyone at HHA, acknowledging that this opportunity reflects countless people’s passion, prayers and hard work over the years.”
Several MBEs were also appointed for services to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, including several senior members of staff at Transport for London and the Houses of Parliament, and the former chief executive of the Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Duncan Sharkey.
Another MBE is Dr Desmond Jaddoo, Bishop of The Village Fellowship Church, in Birmingham, and chairman of Windrush National Organisation, for services to the Windrush generation.
Among the recipients of BEMs are also Georgina Hewes, a volunteer and fund-raiser in Colchester, Essex, for the Children’s Society, for charitable services to children and young people.
