United's Rio Ferdinand gets OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours

City legend Mike Summerbee has also been awarded an OBE

United and England legend Ferdinand has been made an OBE
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 2nd Jun 2022

People from across the North West have been recognised on the Queen's Birthday Honours list as the nation celebrates the monarch's Platinum Jubilee.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand is made an OBE for services to football and charity.

Meanwhile, City legend Mike Summerbee is also awarded an OBE for contributions to the sport and charitable causes.

Paying tribute, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: "We are all absolutely delighted that Mike has been awarded an OBE.”

“It is such richly deserved recognition for his immense contribution to the game both as a player and as an Ambassador.

Ex-City player Mike Summerbee is made an OBE

“But most importantly, it is a recognition of his selfless and enduring commitment to charitable causes and to the many communities he works on behalf of.

“Mike still contributes so much to the City family and I know that today the City family couldn’t be prouder of him or more pleased for him."

More consideration was given to people with long records of public service, as well as those who stepped up during the pandemic this year.

Angela Redgrave, 104, the oldest recipient on the list, and Cheshire twins Elena and Ruben Evans-Guillen, 11, the youngest, received BEMs, the latter two after raising £50,000 for the NHS over the past three years.

Wigan Council leader David Molyneux is made an MBE for services to the community and local government.

Oldham headteacher Glyn Potts was given an MBE for his work at Newman RC College in Chadderton.

Bolton Doctor Rizwan Ahmed gets and MBE for his work as a consultant in repirartory medicine at the Royal Bolton Hospital - where he took the lead on treating Covid-19 patients.

Dr Ahmed said: "From the start of the pandemic I was not only involved in managing acutely unwell COVID patients at the front line but also in planning and executing how the respiratory department and the Trust dealt with the pandemic.

“My priority was to keep my patients safe, staff safe and ensure morale was kept high."

Joanne Mohammed (l) and Doctor Rizwan Ahmed (r)

Nurse Joanne Mohammed is awarded BEM for Services to Nursing and Disability Awareness

A record proportion of Queen's Birthday Honours went to women, the percentage this year - 51.5% - slightly higher than the previous record of 51.2% set in 2015.

The proportion going to people from ethnic minority backgrounds, 13.3%, was down from a record 15.0% last year, while slightly more went to people who are disabled.

The percentage of LGBT recipients was down slightly from last year, from 5.0% to 4.6%.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.

"The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

"I pay tribute to all of this year's winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all."

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