UK celebrates recipients from the North East in HM The King's New Year Honours List
New Year Honours list has been revealed
30 people from the North East who have contributed to their community and country are celebrated in His Majesty The King’s New Years Honours List 2026 today.
In total, 1157 recipients have been awarded this year for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus being on those who have championed their communities.
This year’s recipients include dedicated foster carers, role models in women's sports, committed health workers, champions of the arts, and supporters of young people.
Every part of the UK is represented in the List, from the Western Isles to Liskeard in Cornwall.
Recipients from the North East make up 2.6% of the total number of recipients receiving honours this year.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.
“Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today.”
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.
Notable recipients across the North East include:
Tanya Brown MBE, age 45 from Sunderland, and Simon James Brown MBE, age 56 from Sunderland, for services to the community in Sunderland. They established the Connor Brown Trust (CBT) in 2020 following the fatal stabbing of their teenage son in Sunderland in 2019. The CBT works to steer young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, away from crime and violence by raising awareness of the devastating consequences of knife crime. They deliver workshops in schools and community youth groups, often in partnership with other organisations, to share Connor's story. The couple raised over £20,000 to install public bleed kits at various locations across Sunderland, including on all seventeen Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Fire Stations, in collaboration with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS). They participated in a pioneering project using 360 immersive technology and virtual reality, allowing students aged 11-14 to walk through the crime scene and custody suite related to Connor's murder to evaluate the evidence. Their unwavering commitment and dedication to this cause has not only honoured their son’s memory but made the community a safer, more informed place. The couple participated in a pioneering project (the Youth Trainee Detectives Programme) that used 360 immersive technology and virtual reality allowing students aged 11-14 to experience the crime scene and custody suite related to Connor’s murder to evaluate the evidence. Their unwavering commitment, which included bringing The Knife Angel to Sunderland, has honored their son's memory and contributed to a safer, more informed community.
Vera Parnaby MBE, age 86 from County Durham, for services to veterans and the community in County Durham. She has been a pillar of support for the Royal British Legion (RBL) for over eight decades, earning the affectionate title "Mrs. Poppy" in her hometown of Leadgate. Her remarkable service has seen her raise over £1 million, establishing her as one of the UK's longest-serving poppy sellers. Her commitment to the RBL is rooted in the tragic loss of her father during World War Two, and she began helping her mother with the RBL Women's Section and the Poppy Appeal in 1945. At 14, she officially became a poppy seller, and her commitment only grew from there. For the past 31 years, she has been the driving force behind the Consett Poppy Appeal, organising the annual fundraising effort with unwavering passion, even at 84 years of age. Beyond the RBL, she also volunteers her time for the Scout and Guide groups in the area and serves on the local Parochial Church Council, including as treasurer for St Ives in Leadgate since 2013.
John Hearn BEM, age 102 from Northumberland, for services to Judo and to the community in the North East of England. He dedicated his life to military service (WW2 Veteran and Reservist) and has over 80 years of service to others via the sport of Judo. A 10th Dan exponent in Judo, he has trained a host of UK Judo champions and was recently nominated for a place in the Guinness Book of Records. He continues to be a role model, sharing his wisdom and lifelong dedication to health and fitness even at 102 years old. He attended a Forward Assist therapeutic retreat for isolated military veterans at age 96, where he taught self-defence and advised on healthy eating and regular exercise. His involvement in Judo has helped thousands of individuals improve their physical health, build social connections, and foster positive behaviour, helping to create future leaders and role models. Through his volunteering has helped generations of individuals make a difference in the lives of others while also improving their own well-being.
Barry Meade MBE, age 71 from Northumberland, for services to Heritage.He has devoted much of his life to creating and delivering benefit to the public from his passion for archaeology and heritage, focusing on bringing local people and their heritage closer together in south-east Northumberland. He helped establish the Newbiggin Maritime Centre, a community-led attraction that opened in a deprived area in 2011. He was the driving force behind the complete restoration of the Grade II listed medieval Cresswell Pele Tower, successfully removing it from the national Heritage at Risk Register. He raised nearly £1 million in grants and donations for the Cresswell Pele Tower and adjoining kitchen garden projects, which involved over 300 schoolchildren and 100 volunteers. He has arranged or volunteered at archaeological digs in Northumberland for more than 25 years, in all weathers and in a wide range of settings including on Holy Island and at Otterburn Ranges. His work has been recognised with the Council for British Archaeology's Community Archaeologist of the Year award in 2018 and being named a National Lottery Local Legend in 2019.