ReutersOlympic champion and Sports Personality of the Year Keely Hodgkinson’s golden year has been rounded off with her being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Hodgkinson, who raced to victory in the 800m at this summer’s Paris Games, is recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List for her contribution to athletics.
The 22-year-old, from Salford, became Team GB’s first Olympic track gold medallist since Sir Mo Farah at Rio 2016.
Others from Greater Manchester to be celebrated include the north of England leader of an organisation that protects Jewish communities, an award-winning writer and educator, and a breast cancer awareness advocate.
Handout‘Really rewarding’
Amanda Bomsztyk, from Manchester, is appointed MBE for services to the Jewish Community in her role as northern regional director of the Community Security Trust (CST).
The charity’s stated aim is to protect Jewish people living in the UK and work against antisemitism.
Ms Bomsztyk has been working at the trust for 25 years.
Born and raised in Prestwich, a town which has one of the UK’s largest Jewish communities, she said she had been subjected to antisemitic incidents when growing up.
“That made me determined that other people should not experience it,” she said, adding that her work was “really rewarding”.
Ms Bomsztyk said her charity’s work had been “really challenging” as a result of the current conflict in the Middle East.
She said her MBE was “quite an honour” and “it does mean a lot to me personally”.
HandoutMeanwhile Richard O’Neill, from Bury, is appointed MBE for his services to education and literature.
The award-winning author, playwright and scriptwriter has been working in the community as a literary consultant for more than 25 years, with his own works promoting themes of equality and diversity, identity, community and ecology.
The 62-year-old, who grew up in the Romani community, works to change perceptions of GTR (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma) people through story-telling.
He said being appointed MBE, on top of two recently acquired academic honours, was “overwhelming”.
“[My parents] would have been incredibly chuffed about this, it’s something that doesn’t happen to people like us,” said Mr O’Neill.
“It’s lovely to get recognition and thanks, and to see things changing.”
HandoutJoanne Taylor, from Oldham, is a staunch advocate for metastatic – or secondary – breast cancer awareness.
She received her own primary diagnosis in 2007 and was told she had secondary breast cancer seven years later.
Ms Taylor said her website, listing resources for other breast cancer patients, had grown into two organisations.
After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) was established in 2013, while METUPUK was set up in 2019.
Her work is recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her service to patients, particularly those like her who are living with incurable, metastatic breast cancer.
“We’re campaigning for better care for patients, awareness for signs and symptoms, access to drugs, access to clinical trials,” she said.
Ms Taylor has also established retreats and walking groups for patients, which she said were vital ways for patients to offer each other peer support.
“Nobody understands unless you are living with the disease,” she explained.
Eamonn O’Neal has been appointed OBE for services to charitable causes and to people with disabilities in the north-west of England.
The broadcaster is Radio Manchester’s longest-serving presenter as well as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, and a trustee of several charities. He is also chairman of The Dianne Oxberry Trust which was set up following his colleague’s death in 2019.