Cumbrians named in New Year's Honours List

They are named alongside a list of celebrities and sports men and women who have joined the illustrious list.

Brian Hough, 60, of Stanwix, receives the MBE award for services to the community and to Diabetes UK.

Mr Hough continues to raise awareness about the condition across north and west Cumbria following the death of his wife Lorraine in 2009.

He regularly joins the national charity as a volunteer and encourages others to find out more about the condition and, importantly, whether they are at risk of developing it.

He said: “I found out a few weeks ago when I received a letter and I was sworn to secrecy. I haven’t told anyone.

“The first thing you have to do is accept the award and then details of the ceremony will be sorted later.”

Mr Hough, who recently retired from the Nuclear Decommisioning Authority, said his wife had been “an inspiration” in doing what he now does - raising awareness and fundraising for Diabetes UK.

He said: “In many ways Lorraine was the inspiration for me doing what I do. She would be proud. I was very surprised and very humbled. If my parents were alive they would be very proud as well.”

Mr Hough, a Sunderland fan, has spent his life working as a public servant.

Before joining the NDA he worked in communications for Cumbria County Council and helped with the response to crises including foot and mouth and the flood of 2005. He has also been instrumental in delivering community investment projects in Copeland.

He said: “When you sit down and look back at what you’ve done in your career you realise you’ve achieved quite a lot.”

Norman Clarkson, 79, from Calderbridge, near Seascale is receiving the MBE award for his long and effective service to the county, working tirelessly to improve people’s lives through sport and theatre, by raising money and as a longstanding member of the St Bees lifeboat crew.

Mr Clarkson said: “It was one hell of a shock. I feel very humbled by it. I couldn’t believe it, I kept going back to read the letter. I’ve not got it for myself, it’s through working together, it’s the best way to work, I’ve always tried to do that, in my political career too. It’s best to work cross party.”

Until 2013, he was Chair of the Adams recreation ground at St Bees, raising £250,000 to build a new sports pavillion. As a former Mayor of Copeland, he highlighted the work of the Young Carers Organisation and has been chair of Cumbria County Council, twice president of Egremont Rotary Club and chair of the Copeland Conservative Association.

Mr Clarkson received news of the honour by letter on November 21 and only told his wife Yvonne Clarkson, who is a Copeland councillor for Beckermet, of the honour.

He will receive an MBE at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. On reflection Mr Clarkson said: “I have enjoyed it, it’s been a privilege to serve the people that elected me.”

A Chief Superintendent Divisional Commander of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary has been rewarded for his work by being awarded an MBE.

Duncan Worsell, of N Division, Civil Nuclear Constabulary based at Summergrove, Whitehaven, was put forward for the honour by after 26 and a half years service to the civil nuclear constabulary.

He said: “I am both humbled and honoured to receive this award, it means the world to me. I take enormous pride in the Constabulary, and the great privilege of being one of its leaders, it is without doubt the most brilliant thing that I have done with my working life.

“I am incredibly fortunate to work with the most fantastic people, helping me achieve my aspirations, and supporting others to meet theirs, and many of them have been working hard through this Christmas period, protecting our country and its people.

“I sincerely believe that the honour which has been bestowed upon me is as much representative of them and their efforts as it is of my own.”

The first indication that Mr Worsell had of the top honour was when he received a notification from the cabinet office asking if he would accept the award.

He had no idea that he had been selected until contacted by his press office and he has not yet told anybody, including his family of the impending accolade.

Mr Worsell said: “I’m not the sort of person to shout about it I’ll tell my wife, mum and children in the morning.”

He has worked all over the country in a number of roles, being in charge of Sellafield, with policing between 2010 to 2013; divisional commander for N division at Sellafield and Dounreay, Heysham, Hartlepool, Torness and Harwell, with over 800 officers and staff. The MBE investiture will take place in 2019.

Meanwhile, a nurse from Penton, near Longtown, has been honoured in this year’s list for services to nursing.

Kathleen Dawson has worked for 28 years as a children’s nurse.

She works for the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Two women who work for the Department for International Development (DfID) have been awarded in the New Year’s Honours list.

Vicky Stanger, of East Curthwaite, near Wigton, and Beth Cadman, of Gretna, were both named in this year’s prestigious list.

Vicky received an MBE for services to International Development.

Beth has been awarded an OBE for Services to International Development in a Succession of Challenging Environments.

The Honours system recognises people who have made achievements in public and community life, and are committed to making a difference to those around them.

Several Cumbrian people have already been confirmed to receive a UK Honour in 2019.

Others include: Christopher Armstrong, of Torpenhow, for services to the Criminal Justice System and the local community; John Milburn Holmes of Kendal, for services to the community in South Lakeland; David Taylor of Carnforth, for voluntary service to First Aid and Red Cross fundraising and Barbara Elborn for services to the community in Newcastleton.

Claire Hensman, Lord-Lieutenant for Cumbria, said: “I would encourage people to think about someone that they know who always goes the extra mile for others and who has made a special contribution to their community or to their area of work over the years.

“These awards are special.”