Council bosses among New Years honours
The Queen’s New Year honours list featured a plethora of recipients from across the county.
Those honoured, included three local authority chief executives. Harrogate Borough Council’s Wallace Sampson is awarded an OBE for services to business and the community in Yorkshire. Kersten England of Bradford council, is given a CBE for services to the economy and to the community in the city. Finally Tom Riordan, who leads Leeds City Council is given a CBE for services to local government.
Speaking of the honours, Tom said: “I’m really pleased and extremely humbled to receive this award.
“I feel strongly that it is for the council, the city, the amazing people and communities I work with and everyone who’s invested in doing the best we can for the people of Leeds.
It’s a privilege to do this job for and with them. I am so grateful for all the help I’ve received throughout my career from my family, friends and colleagues.”
Kersten commented: “Despite my Edinburgh accent I regard myself as a bona fide Bradfordian.
“My children grew up and were educated here and it’s the place that I have lived in for longest in my life. I consider it an honour to serve this extraordinary city and district.”
“It is very humbling to be recognised in the New Year’s honours 30 years on from my first job in local government as a training officer in the HR department at Kirklees Council.
Speaking of Wallace’s award, Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said: “Wallace has dedicated his life to public service, and this is much-deserved recognition of that.
“But Wallace is much more than a chief executive.
“He is an enthusiast for everything he does, a role model to others, someone who makes things happen and sees solutions where others see problems.
“And to top all of that he is a thoroughly nice person.
“I am thrilled for Wallace and his family. It’s great news for the start of 2020.”
Alongside these senior public sector figures, Lizzie Jones receives an MBE. Lizzie lost her husband former Keighley Cougers Rugby League player, Danny Jones in 2015 and has since worked tirelessly to establish the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.
There was also an award for original ‘Calendar Girl’, Angela Knowles who helped raise almost £6 million for charity.
