Lucy AshtonSouth Yorkshire political reporter
Marie Curie CancerRotherham comedian and Chuckle Brother Paul Elliott has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his charitable work.
He joins 95-year-old Doncaster scriptwriter Roy Clarke, who has been knighted in recognition for his services to television.
Elliott, along with his late brother Barry, made nearly 300 episodes of their TV show ChuckleVision in the 1990s and 2000s.
Barry died from bone cancer aged 73 in 2018 and was given end-of-life care by Marie Curie nurses. Elliott, 78, has been a prominent supporter and ambassador for the charity.
Elliott said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s such an honour, a lad from a council estate in Rotherham, and after all these years, getting an MBE is just such an honour. I’m very much a royalist.”
He said Marie Curie first came to his attention when he saw an ad on TV.
He said: “I was just watching an advert for Marie Curie on the telly, and I just put on Twitter (now X) if everybody that followed me just paid £1 each to Marie Curie that’d be a lot of money for them, £50,000.
“And Marie Curie got in touch with me, and it’s gone on straight from there, really.”
Sir Roy Clarke wrote Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping up Appearances.
His knighthood follows on from him being appointed an OBE in 2002 for his contribution to British comedy.
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife TrustSheffield Council’s director of public health Greg Fell, who is president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, has become a CBE.
The former chief executive of Sheffield Theatres Dan Bates also becomes a CBE for services to culture in his new role with Bradford Culture Company.
And a CBE has been given to Liz Ballard, former chief executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, for services to the environment.
Ms Ballard joined Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust in 2012 and shaped local nature recovery strategies, protecting precious habitats and inspiring many more people to take action for nature.
She said she was thrilled and surprised to be recognised, adding: “I’m humbled to be awarded this honour and would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout my career in the environment sector, especially at Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.”
Other CBEs include:
- Vanessa Langley, head teacher of Arbourthorne Community Primary School, for services to education.
- Thomas Greig, director of passports, citizenship and civil registration and registrar general for public service in South Yorkshire.
- Prof Alan Fletcher, lately the National Medical Examiner for England and Wales, for services to NHS South Yorkshire.
- Sarah Norman, chief executive of Barnsley Council, for services to local government.
- Jacqueline Neal, managing director of Abbey Forged Products, for services to women in the steel industry.
- George Rankin, most recently with the National Crime Agency, for services to law enforcement.
- Andrew Simpson, chief executive of Doncaster Refurnish, for services to social enterprise.
- Lucy Whitehouse, founder and chief executive of Fumble, for services to teenage education.
A number of people have become Medallists of the Order of the British Empire – known as BEM – for services to their local communities.
These are John Housley (Chapeltown), Jane Shore (Wickersley), John Silverwood (Stocksbridge) and Rotherham councillor Adam Tinsley (Maltby).
Fundraiser Dominic Hurley also receives a BEM for services to charity.
