Honours List: More women than men for first time ever

The Queen has released her New Year’s honours list today, and the majority – 51 per cent – of the almost 1,200 awards this year go to women.

Actress Angela Lansbury, two Downing Street cleaners and a woman who tried to block a multi-million pound bonus for the tarnished boss of Barclays bank were among the 610 women on the list.

Alison Carnwath fought against a “culture of entitlement” in banking when she served on the board of Barclays bank in 2011, trying to block a bonus for Bob Diamond on top of a multi-million salary for leading the the struggling bank. Ms Carnwath has been made a Dame.

Sandi Toksvig, the wit and radio broadcaster has been granted an OBE for her services to broacasting.

Other well-known recipients include an MBE for Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones, a knighthood for artist Anthony Gormley, and former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer. Nicholas Parsons, radio host of ‘Just a Minute’ received a CBE for his charitable work.

NHS campaigner Julie Bailey has dedicated her CBE to her late mother – whose death promoted a campaign to expose the horrific neglect of patients at Stafford Hospital.

The percentage of women recognised has risen steadily over the past decades. In the 1974 New Year’s honours list 17 per cent of recipients were women, in 1994 the percentage was 28 per cent and in 2004 it was 34 per cent.

Cleaners honoured

Two Downing Street cleaners were also honoured in the list for their services to the Prime Minister’s Office. Madeleine Josephine Hennell and Henrietta Shorter received British Empire Medals (BEMs) for their work cleaning the most famous address in Britain. Both women have served under five prime ministers going back to Margaret Thatcher.

Ms Hennell, 62, who retired on January 31 after 25 years of service, said she was “over the moon” at being honoured. Ms Hennell, known as “Connie”, who was on first-name terms with all the prime ministers she worked for, first heard of her nomination from Prime Minister David Cameron, by letter in November.

“I ignored the letter at first, thinking it was just something to do with my pension,” she said. “I was over the moon when I found out, I couldn’t believe it.”
The early morning shifts eventually took their toll on Ms Hennell, who said she had to wake up at 3am to get two buses to work ahead of a 5am start, but the south London resident has no regrets.

I was over the moon when I found out, I couldn’t believe it Downing Street cleaner

Reflecting on her 25 years at Downing Street, she said: “I met loads of people and I was just so proud to be working there.”

Almost three quarters of the awards were given out to people who had done “outstanding work” in their communities and many members of the Armed Forces and Fire and Rescue services were also honoured for their service to the country

Five per cent of the successful candidates come from ethnic minority communities, said the Cabinet Office.

Order of the what? The honours and what they mean
Companion of Honour:  This is awarded for having a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time.Knight/Dame: This is awarded for having a major contribution in any activity, usually at national level. Other people working in the nominee’s area will see their contribution as inspirational and significant, requiring commitment over a long period of time.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE): This is awarded for having a prominent but lesser role at national level, or a leading role at regional level. You can also get one for a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): This is awarded for having a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE): This is awarded for a significant achievement or outstanding service to the community. An MBE is also awarded for local ‘hands-on’ service which stands out as an example to other people.
British Empire Medal (BEM): Reintroduced in 2012, this rewards a sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work of a relatively short duration (eg 3 to 4 years).
Source: Cabinet Office