Former Defra and DExEU perm sec Clare Moriarty and ex-Northern Ireland Civil Service head David Sterling have had their contributions to government recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours – along with hundreds of frontline workers and volunteers.
Normally published in June, this year’s Birthday Honours were deferred to because of Covid-19, and recognise the efforts of individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to aid the response to the pandemic. A total of 1,495 awards have been given, 414 of which are conferred upon “unsung heroes”.
Moriarty, who left government earlier this year following the wind-up of the Department for Exiting the European Union, becomes a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath.
She told CSW she was “absolutely delighted” and that her damehood was “the ultimate honour” after a civil service career spanning three and a half decades.
“I'm proud that over the course of 35 years in the civil service, in the most eclectic collection of jobs across many departments, I was able to contribute in lots of different ways,” she said. “There's a lovely warm feeling about having that recognised.
"In the last five years, as a permanent secretary, my mission was to encourage greater focus on people; to embrace humanity, make space for difference and support people within the civil service to provide the best possible service to citizens and communities.
"It feels like positive recognition of the importance of that. I'd like to thank all of the people who've helped that mission and continue to pursue it across the civil service."
Sterling stood down as NICS head at the end of August following “42 years, 199 days” of service – the final three years of which were dominated by the need for officials to run Northern Ireland without political direction following the collapse of power sharing at Stormont. He becomes a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
Sterling said he was “very honoured” by his knighthood, but would not be using the title.
“I will still be David,” he said. “It is a great honour but the idea of being Sir David sits slightly uncomfortably on my shoulders.
“So I’ll not be making a big deal of it.”
Other high-profile civil service and diplomatic service awards include Sir Tim Barrow, political director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and UK Ambassador to the European Union. Barrow becomes a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of St Michael and St George in recognition of his “exceptional contribution” to British interests overseas over the past 30 years – including a “crucial role” in negotiating the terms of the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Sir Julian King, who served as the UK’s final commissioner to the EU, also becomes a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of St Michael and St George for his “outstanding contribution to European security” as part of a long and distinguished diplomatic career.
Sarah MacIntosh, who is the UK’s permanent representative to NATO, becomes Dame Commander in the Order of St Michael and St George for her “exceptional contribution in support of the UK’s foreign, defence and security policy”. MacIntosh was previously director-general for defence and intelligence at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Other notable awards in the honours include a CBE for interior designer and entrepreneur Kelly Hoppen, who is chair of the GREAT Ambassadors’ group, which promotes UK business abroad.
Elsewhere, scores of departmental staff and agency workers see their work honoured.
OBEs
Officer of the Order of the British Empire honours, known as OBEs, are awarded to:
- Graham Barrett, governing governor at HMP Wandsworth. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Tamsin Berry, formerly director at the Department of Health and Social Care. (For services to government and life sciences.)
- Dr Ian Collard, formerly head of the counter-terrorism department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (For services to British foreign policy and to national security.)
- Susan Marie Doolan, formerly governor at HMP Littlehey. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Bernhard Garside, formerly HM Ambassador, San Salvador, El Salvador. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Christopher Gillon, team leader, strategic threats team, FCDO. (For services to national security.)
- Carl David Hardwick, governor at HMP/YOI Drake Hall. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Philip Hoper, head of the special projects team, FCDO. (For services to national security.)
- Ruairi O’Connell, formerly HM Ambassador, Pristina, Kosovo. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Anthony Ridout, team leader FCDO. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Adam Tee, team leader FCDO. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Dr John Walker, formerly head of arms control and disarmament research, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (For services to British foreign policy.)
MBEs
Member of the Order of the British Empire awards, known as MBEs, are awarded to:
- Zahid Hussain Bhatti, managing chaplain, HMP Wormwood Scrubs. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Andrew Bizley, former assistant legal adviser, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Kathryn Careless, desk officer, innovation and delivery team, FCDO. (For services to national security.)
- Simon Edward Constable, railway worker, Network Rail. (For services to the Rail Industry during Covid-19.)
- Christopher Conway, charity ambassador, Network Rail. (For services to the Homeless particularly during Covid-19.)
- Brendan John Doyle, prison officer, HMP Coldingley. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Gary Frith, health and safety adviser, HMP Hindley. (For services to prison staff, their families and prisoners during Covid-19.)
- Laura Jane Gill, head of strategy and portfolio, National Crime Agency. (For services to the Covid-19 response.)
- Philip Nesbit Graham, signalling volunteer, Network Rail. (For services to the rail industry, particularly during Covid-19.)
- Jacqueline Elizabeth Harris, service centre manager, Belfast region. (For services to the delivery of social security in Northern Ireland during Covid-19.)
- Georgina Hollingsworth, FCDO social work advisor. (For services to British nationals suffering mental health issues abroad.)
- John Kell, research and development specialist in automotive sector team, Department for International Trade. (For services to UK trade and investment.)
- Peter Kellond, Honorary British Consul, Montego Bay, Jamaica. (For consular services to British nationals in Jamaica.)
- Simon Kelly, country director for Angola, Department for International Trade. (For services to trade and investment.)
- Jamil Malik, consular manager, British Consulate General, Toronto, Canada. (For services to British nationals in Canada.)
- Gareth James Mallion, Network Rail employee. (For services to the NHS during Covid-19.)
- Desmond Malpass, international liaison officer, National Crime Agency. (For services to combatting serious organised crime.)
- Kate McGilchrist, former HR business partner for Europe, FCDO. (For services to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.)
- Dr Catherine Tracey Moore, consultant clinical scientist, Public Health Wales. (For services to public health during Covid-19.)
- Leahman Filmore Pratt, Christian chaplain, HMP Exeter. (For services to HM Prison and Probation Service during Covid-19.)
- Farhana Haque Proma, pro-consul, British High Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (For services to British nationals in Bangladesh.)
- Francis Rainsford, British Honorary Consul, Arequipa, Peru. (For services to British nationals in Peru.)
- Indira Rao, assistant legal adviser, FCDO. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Alma Simmons, facilities management performance manager, FCDO Services. (For services to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.)
- Richard M Slack, former deputy director of strategic communications, Russia unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- Jonathan Webster, team leader, FCDO. (For services to British foreign policy.)
- David Mark Williams, railway worker, Network Rail. (For services to the Covid-19 response.)
- Tony Sau-wo Yu, associate director, Department for international Trade, British Consulate General, Hong Kong. (For services to business.)
- Bernice Allport, workplace adjustment team leader, Civil Service Employee Policy, Cabinet Office. (For services to Gender Equality)
- Brian Stanislas, product manager, Civil Service Human Resources, Cabinet Office. (For services to flexible working and equality in the workplace.)