King's Birthday Honours 2025 - Derbyshire people who made the list

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A number of people living and working in Derbyshire feature in the King's Birthday Honours List 2025. Those that have been chosen include Andy Smith, strategic director of people services at Derby City Council, who becomes a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) - a prestigious award which is a level down from a knighthood or damehood - for services to disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

He is among more than 1,075 people from across the UK to receive honours across all sectors, with particular with a particular focus on those who have given their time to public service.

Among well-known national figures being honoured is former England captain David Beckham, who receives a knighthood for services to sport and charity. Beyond the pitch, Mr Beckham has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since 2005, and the ex-Manchester United winger also established the 7 Fund aimed at helping vulnerable children around the world. He supports a number of charities including the Chelsea Pensioners, Help for Heroes, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Age UK and the London Air Ambulance service.

Other national recipients are sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, who is made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his services to art, and Billy Boston becomes the first Rugby League player to ever receive a knighthood.

While Luke Littler has been awarded an MBE for services to darts, as currently the world number 2 at the age of 18. Who frontman Roger Daltrey, a patron to the Teenage Cancer Trust, has been awarded a knighthood for his services to charity, Gary Oldman receives a knighthood for Services to drama, while Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly both receive MBEs for services to broadcasting.

The oldest recipient this year is William Irwin, who, at 106 years old, receives a BEM for services to the community in Coleraine, County Londonderry. William is one of three honours recipients over the last ten years aged 106.

At 11 years old, the youngest recipient this year is Carmela Chillery-Watson, who lives with a rare life-limiting, muscle-wasting condition. She receives an MBE for charitable fundraising, in particular for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "This year's Birthday Honours List is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country.

"From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all."

Local recipients include: Andy Smith (CBE) Commander of the Order of the British Empire

As a former child in care, who was adopted by his foster carers when aged 10, Andy Smith always knew that he wanted to be a social worker from an early age and has always tried to use his previous lived and positive experiences of the care system and of social workers throughout his career.

His CBE has been awarded in recognition of his services to disadvantaged and vulnerable children. His unique perspective and unwavering commitment have made him an invaluable asset to Derby City Council and the people of Derby.

He works at the council as the strategic director for people services - a role which includes of director of children's services and director of adult social services, a role he's held since 2016, although he was the director of children's services from 2015.

Mr Smith is a qualified social worker and prior to moving to Derby in 2014 as the director for early help and children's safeguarding, he worked in Leicester in a variety of roles for nearly 20 years. Between 2010 and 2017, he also worked as a local authority associate inspector with Ofsted. This provided him with learning and experience on the previous inspection frameworks.

He said: "I am truly humbled to receive this honour. This recognition is not just for me, but for all my colleagues who work tirelessly to make a real difference in the lives of our children every single day. Every child deserves the best start in life, and I'm proud to have played a part in striving towards that goal."

He was previously chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services Standards, Performance and Inspection Committee for two years prior to becoming vice president of the association in April 2023 and president the following year and has lobbied the Government to ensure children's needs, rights and outcomes are prioritised.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, city council leader, said: "This is a truly deserved honour for Andy. His dedication and passion for improving outcomes for children are exemplary. He's been a driving force in transforming our services and ensuring that the city's young people receive the care, protection, and opportunities they need. We're immensely proud of his achievement."

Dominic Harrison (MBE) Member of the Order of the British Empire

For 12 years, Dominic Harrison, 62, has been an invaluable and highly effective trustee of GamCare, the UK's largest independent charity dedicated to the prevention and treatment of gambling harms. He is receiving his MBE for services to the prevention of gambling harms.

He has also brought compassion and common sense to the protection of people who are affected by gambling harms. and almost three years ago, he stepped up to become the chair of GamCare's audit, risk and development committee.

Mr Harrison's implementation of rigorous financial governance frameworks has reinforced GamCare's long-term stability and growth, allowing the organisation to continue its essential work, supporting more than 1,000 callers each week through its National Gambling Helpline as well as hundreds more through its one-to one and group-based treatment services and prevention programmes.

His unwavering dedication to GamCare's mission has been crucial in enabling the charity to continue to provide life-changing services to more than 55,000 individuals each year.

Professor Emeritus Alan Perkins (MBE) Member of the Order of the British Empire

Professor Alan Perkins is a distinguished clinical scientist and the first non-medical president of the British Nuclear Medicine Society. He has been made an MBE for services to patient care and clinical science.

He has worked in nuclear medicine at the University of Nottingham for more than 25 years. He managed the trust's nuclear medicine and radiation protection services for many years and worked on the team that established the new Nottingham PET-CT and Cyclotron Centre for the City Hospital campus.

His research covers fields such as tumour targeting, drug delivery and imaging gastrointestinal function. He was previously awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians in recognition of exceptional services to the science and practice of medicine.

Louise Telford Potter DL (MBE) Member of the Order of the British Empire

Louise Potter, DL, is an advisor with Buxton Vision and a volunteer and trustee of Buxton International Festival. She is made an MBE for her services to the economic development of Buxton.