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Music

31st Dec 2020

Craig David receives MBE in New Years Honours list

JOE

Hundreds of coronavirus volunteers have also received honours

Singer Craig David has been made an MBE for his services for music in the 2021 New Years Honours list.

Craig David’s first album Born To Do It became the fastest-selling debut from a British male solo artist in 2000.

David’s manager Colin Lester also receives an OBE, and the singer congratulated him in a tweet.

Other big names on the New Years Honours list include actors Sheila Hancock, who is made a dame, and Toby Jones, who receives an OBE.

Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton also has been given a knighthood.

In November 2020, Hamilton won his seventh Formula 1 title, equaling Michael Schumacher’s record. Earlier this month, he was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the second time.

While clearly one of the most successful British sportspeople of his generation, there has been some debate over Hamilton would receive the honour as he lives in the tax haven of Monaco. However, The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson himself intervened to make sure it happened.

Lewis Hamilton becomes the fourth Formula 1 driver to be honoured with a knighthood. Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, and Australian Sir Jack Brabham are the other three.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who made films like 1917No Country For Old Men and Skyfall look amazing, is also knighted.

It is not just famous faces who have been rewarded in the list – hundreds who went above and beyond to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

106-year-old charity volunteer Anne Baker has become the oldest person to receive an hounor, after being awarded an MBE. She has been raising money for the NSPCC since the 1950s.

104-year-old Ruth Saunders also receives an MBE for walking a marathon to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

Former palliative care nurse Catherine Fitzsimmons from Greater Manchester receives a BEM, for coming out of retirement to help during the pandemic, and  Mark Owen, from Clwyd, North Wales, gets an MBE after re-joining the police, working with volunteer officers to deliver prescriptions and food parcels.

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Craig David