The great and the good from across St Albans and Hertsmere districts have been recognised by the Queen in her New Year’s Honours.
Among the recipients was War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, who was born in the city and has been made a Knight Bachelor for services to literature and charity.
The former Children’s Laureate, who runs the charity Farms for City Children with his wife Clare, was previously made an MBE in 1999 and an OBE in 2006.
Other recipients of gongs include Nigel Tully from Markyate, who has been awarded an MBE for services to music.
Mr Tully has been a trustee of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) since 2000 and has served as the organisation’s pro-bono executive chair since 2009, leading a period of financial, administrative and artistic transformation.
During his tenure, he has brought in well in excess of £1m of funding for the organisation, achieved Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation status for NYJO, developed an award-winning learning and participation programme, and established numerous international partnerships, such as with the German and Dutch National Youth Jazz Orchestras.
Mr Tully said: “I was very pleased. For the last eight years I have ran the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and that is what the honours system was set up for. There are some people who get them for doing their day job for a good salary.
“We do about 40 major professional concerts around the UK, in Huddersfield, Cumbria, and Bristol.
“If Bach or Mozart were alive today, they would go to the NYJO.”
Mr Tully has also worked with the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and has led the Britain’s longest-serving party band Dark Blues for over 50 years.
Staying on a musical note, David Temple, music director of Hertfordshire Chorus, has been awarded an MBE, also for services to music.
Mr Temple has served with Hertfordshire Chorus since 2002, which he combines with directing Crouch End Festival Chorus.
He said: “I am both proud and thrilled to receive this award and I would like to dedicate it to all who have supported me throughout my career both on the concert platform and behind the scenes.”
Chair of Hertfordshire Chorus Janet Cameron said “We congratulate David on receiving the MBE.
“It is well-deserved and a tribute to his considerable contribution to the success of the chorus as well as to the wider community.
“We are extremely proud to have him as our musical director.”
David will next conduct Hertfordshire Chorus on Saturday, February 17 at St Albans Cathedral.
The leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Morris Bright, has also been made an MBE for services to local government.
Other recipients from Hertfordshire include Harry Spiro, a Holocaust survivor from Radlett, who has been made an Medallist of the Order of the British Empire.
Mr Spiro was one of 732 survivors known as “The Boys” who came to live in Britain after being liberated.
Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Charlie Hall has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal, which is given to officers who have had distinguished careers in the service.
He has served with Herts police since 2016, after having worked at Norfolk Constabulary, where he was Deputy Chief Constable.
Chief Con Hall said: “I am really delighted. The award reflects the hard work of all the good people I have worked alongside over the years, developing policing locally and nationally.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said: “This is a fitting reward for an excellent chief constable who has done so much for policing in Hertfordshire and nationally.”
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