THE heroism of emergency staff and transport workers in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London has been rewarded in the Queen's New Year Honours list.
Medics, employees with London Underground and ambulance staff were honoured for their response to the four suicide bombs on three Tube trains and a bus that killed 52 people and left hundreds injured in the centre of the capital.
David Boyce, the
station supervisor at Russell Square Tube station, becomes an MBE. His citation explained that "despite the potential danger [he] ran into the tunnel and provided first aid".
Among the others to be made MBEs were: Glen McMunn, an inspector with the British Transport Police, who was honoured for his work following the bombings; John Boyle, a Tube train driver, who was first on the scene after the Aldgate station explosion; Deborah Russell-Fenwick, a British Transport Police constable who tended to the injured on the scene of the Tavistock Place bus blast; and William Kilminster, a London Ambulance Service paramedic, who braved appalling conditions to attend the bombed train between the King's Cross and Russell Square stations.
A spokesman at Downing Street said yesterday: "These people showed immense strength of spirit and courage in the face of terrorism on our transport system."
While the terrorist atrocity dominated the Honours list, there was also the traditional mix of names from the world of sport and entertainment. Bruce Forsyth, 77, the light entertainer who waltzed back on to television screens to present Strictly Come Dancing, was made a CBE for services to entertainment and declared himself to be "quick-stepping with delight".
The former host of The Generation Game said: "I hope the Queen has been watching Strictly Come Dancing. I think she may have. I hope she's seen the show and enjoyed it. I'm very happy to receive the CBE."
Another veteran entertainer to be rewarded was Tom Jones, 65, the singer from the Welsh Valleys whose hits, such as Delilah and It's Not Unusual, continue to echo around the world. He was made a knight.
Roy Barraclough, 70, who played Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street, was made an MBE and the actress Imelda Staunton, 49, who delivered a career-defining performance in the title role of the Oscar-nominated 2004 film Vera Drake, becomes an OBE. Sanjeev Bhaskar, 41, the actor and writer who came to public attention when he starred in the comedy shows Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42 was also made an OBE.
Among the most surprising omissions from the Honours list was Jamie Oliver, the young chef whose TV series Jamie's School Dinners highlighted the poor diet found in Britain's school canteens. Instead it was Heston Blumenthal, whose restaurant, The Fat Duck, was voted the finest in the world this year, who was made an OBE for his famous dishes, such as snail porridge.
Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer, was made a dame, while the flamboyant tailor Ozwald Boateng, who took the stuffiness out of Savile Row, became an OBE.
On the political front, Lord Ashdown, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, received a knighthood for his work as the international community's representative in Bosnia and Herzogovina.
Members of the political establishment and civil service accounted for 40 per cent of the honours, with Sir Richard Mottram, security and intelligence co-ordinator for the Cabinet Office, receiving the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
Brian Tipper, who recently retired as the service technician of Big Ben, was also honoured, being made an MBE for ensuring that the clock never failed.
Peter Snow The former Newsnight presenter with the wild gesticulating arms was appointed a CBE for services to journalism. Snow has attained a cult following as a result of his enthusiastic general election coverage, when he mans the "swingometer" and provides minute-by-minute statistical analysis. Each election has seen his swingometer became more sophisticated.
He retired after the 2005 poll.
Jeanette Winterson, 46, awarded an OBE for services to literature, is the author of acclaimed novels such as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and The Passion. She was raised to be a missionary in an adoptive evangelical family and grew up preaching on street corners.
It has been said of her: "Words are now as holy for her as God could ever be." Yet she fell in love with another girl and left home at 16 - a story that informed her first novel, Oranges.
Jonathan Ive, who received a CBE in the diplomatic list, is the man behind such iconic electronic designs as the iPod and iMac. As senior vice-president of design at Apple, he has been described as having been responsible for a "whirlwind of innovation" there. Born in London in 1967, Mr Ive joined Apple at their California headquarters in 1992.
