THREE LIONESSES
Mary Earps, Lauren Hemp and Millie Bright given gongs as sport & music stars celebrated in New Year’s Honours list
From a racy novelist to a former Home Secretary, see who's on the list
A TRIO of England’s Lionesses hit the back of the net with gongs in the New Year Honours list.
Celebrated goalkeeper Mary Earps, 30, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, now picks up an MBE for services to football in recognition of reaching the World Cup final.
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Lauren Hemp, 23, gets the same gong and captain Millie Bright, 30, an OBE after they finished runners-up to Spain.
Millie was “gobsmacked” to learn of her gong — initially fearing the notification was a parking fine.
And Lauren said she was “very privileged and honoured”.
Keeper Peter Shilton, 74, England’s most capped male player, gets a CBE for services to football and gambling prevention.
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Fellow sportsmen on the list include England cricketer Stuart Broad, 37, who is also made a CBE after his summer retirement.
Ex-rugby league players Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield are also rewarded with the CBE honour for raising awareness of motor neurone disease.
Sinfield, 43, has raised millions by running seven ultramarathons in as many days.
In May, he also carried ex-teammate Burrow — who has MND — over the line after pushing him round the course of the Leeds marathon.
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On the showbiz front, Dame Shirley Bassey said she was “truly humbled” to be made a Companion of Honour.
The Welsh singer, 86, was previously named a dame back in 2000.
She said: “Music has been a constant companion in my life.
“As a little girl growing up in Tiger Bay, I’d dream of travelling the world and never imagined that one day, my voice would take me to where I am now.”
Bake Off star Paul Hollywood, 57, has been made an MBE. He is honoured for services to baking and broadcasting.
Game Of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke, 37, who thought she was going to die after a brain bleed, was handed an MBE for setting up a charity to help those with similar conditions.
Director Sir Ridley Scott, 86, whose movies include Gladiator, Alien, and Napoleon, becomes a Knight Grand Cross, upgrading his previous knighthood.
X Factor winner Leona Lewis, 38, is made an OBE in recognition of her work to both music and charity.
She has won seven Brit Awards and been nominated three times for a Grammy.
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Radio legend Tony Blackburn described his OBE as “the icing on a very lovely cake” after six decades on-air.
The 80-year-old is honoured for services to broadcasting and charity.
DJ Steve Wright, 69, who hosted the popular Radio 2 afternoon show, is made an MBE.
TalkSport host Jeff Stelling, 68, who was also the face of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday for nearly three decades, also gets an MBE.
The widow of author Roald Dahl said she was “amazed and grateful” to be given a Damehood.
Felicity Dahl, 85, is recognised for philanthropy, literature and young people.
The theme of this year’s honours was “selfless-giving” as individuals showed support and comfort to others.
PM Rishi Sunak said: “To all honourees, you’re the pride of this country.”
Meanwhile, ex-Chancellor Sajid Javid, who is standing down at the next election, is awarded a knighthood.
And Tim Martin — boss of the JD Wetherspoon pub chain — is also made a Sir.
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Molly dad award for web quest
THE dad of tragic teen Molly Russell has been awarded an MBE, saying his daughter would be “very proud” of her legacy of suicide prevention.
Ian Russell has been recognised for services to child safety on the web and is demanding the regulator Ofcom crack down on harmful material online.
He said: “I think it’s important they have courage and they step further and faster with their regulation.
“If they don’t take enough action young people will still be threatened.”
Molly, 14, died in 2017 from an act of self-harm while she was suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content.
P-ride for Dame Jilly
RACY author Jilly Cooper was “bowled over” by being given a damehood.
PM Rishi Sunak is a fan of Jilly's Rutshire Chronicles which tell of scandal among the upper classes.
Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis joked he would save some tickets for the Prince of Wales after finding out he is to be knighted for services to music and charity.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Justin Welby is made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO).
Sir Justin conducted the service for May’s Coronation and had the task of anointing Charles and Camilla.
Lockdown Prof is Sir
A PROFESSOR who called for Covid restrictions to stay in place for longer has been handed a knighthood.
John Edmunds, who sat on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said lifting lockdown in early 2021 would be a “disaster”.
Yesterday, he said he was “amazed and a little embarrassed” at becoming a Sir.
Civil servant and new chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union Abi Tierney is given the Order of the Bath.
She headed the Passport Office when controversy erupted last year as 700,000 were left waiting for their applications to be cleared.
KILLER BLOCK DUO GET MEDALS
THE mother of Joanna Simpson — bludgeoned to death by her husband — and her best friend are to receive CBEs for their domestic abuse charity work.
Diana Parkes and pal Hetti Barkworth-Nanton campaigned to keep the killer behind bars — backed by The Sun.
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Robert Brown killed Jo within earshot of their two children in 2010 yet was due for automatic release halfway through his sentence for manslaughter earlier this year.
They convinced Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to block it and his case will now be reviewed by the parole board.
The women co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation, while Hetti is also chair of domestic abuse charity Refuge.
They are honoured for services to vulnerable children and adults affected by domestic abuse and homicide.
Diana said: “The Joanna Simpson Foundation was set up in her name to ensure all children impacted by domestic violence are supported and protected.”
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Nine-year-old Tony Hudgell, who had both his legs amputated after being abused by his parents, received a British Empire Medal for his £2million charity walk.
Tony is the youngest recipient of an honour.
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