Sir David Jason leads birthday honours list

Published on Saturday 11 June 2005 01:55

HIS role as the brash wheeler-dealer Del Boy Trotter in Only Fools and Horses ensured him a special place in the nation's hearts, and now his talents have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours, published today.

David Jason, who has expressed a desire not to be remembered solely for his Del Boy role, said he feels "surprised, delighted and humbled" at being made a Sir.

The actor heads a host of stars from the world of showbusiness to grace the list, including Dame Judy Dench, the award-winning chat host Jonathan Ross and the veteran radio and television presenter, Terry Wogan, whose Irish nationality makes him the recipient of a special award.

Jason, 65, already an OBE, first became known playing the part of Granville, the put-upon shop assistant in Ronnie Barker's Open All Hours in the Seventies.

But he achieved legendary status as the dodgy geezer from Peckham whose delusions of grandeur in the face of adversity kept Only Fools and Horses on television for 22 years.

Another television hit series followed, in the shape of The Darling Buds of May, with the then budding Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones, before yet another success, A Touch of Frost, in which he plays the maverick detective Jack Frost.

Dame Judy, doyenne of the London stage who became an Oscar-winning Hollywood star in her sixties for her role as Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, has become a Companion of Honour.

The award cements her place alongside Jason - the pair were recently voted among the top-ten best-loved actors in a recent poll - as one of the nation's favourites.

Dench, 70, spent her younger years as a leading actress of the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company but more recently has played a string of formidable women in a series of movies, ranging from Queen Victoria to 007's boss M.

Another veteran actress Stephanie Cole, who is playing the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, in a West End revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, got an OBE for services to drama, elderly people and to mental-health charities.

Ross was awarded an OBE to add to his already impressive string of broadcasting awards. His prolific career as a broadcaster began in 1987 when he was called in as "a last resort" to host a new chat show, but his irreverent style proved so popular he has lasted, with his BBC1 show on Friday night attracting regular A-list guests.

Ross's BBC Radio 2 colleague and king of chat, Wogan, was given an honorary knighthood, although his name was not included in the official list, which features only British and Commonwealth citizens.

The breakfast show giant and Eurovision compere Wogan said: "I'm surprised and delighted that her majesty has given me this honour."

The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, was awarded an OBE for services to journalism. Gardner has recently appeared back on screen after being shot and seriously wounded in a gun attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last summer, in an incident in which the cameraman Simon Cumbers was killed.

Gardner has described the shooting as an "execution" and said he would have died within two hours had it not been for the expert team of doctors in Saudi Arabia.

He spent eight months in hospital and underwent 12 operations before returning to work in a wheelchair in April this year.

Brian May, the guitarist with rock band Queen, was among the few musicians who made the grade this year. May, who played on the roof of Buckingham Palace during Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee in 2002, was honoured with CBE.

The contributions of John Mayall, known as the father of the British blues, who founded the Bluesbreakers, were recognised with an OBE. A knighthood went to the operatic singer John Tomlinson.

Jimmy Page, a founding member of the band Led Zeppelin also got an OBE, but not for his musical talents.

Page, who has recently involved in various charity work, particularly in relation to Brazil, was listed in the Diplomatic List, for services to disadvantaged children there.

From the religious world, there were knighthoods for Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.

In the public sector, MI5 boss Elizabeth Manningham-Buller became Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath, while Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland since May 2002, received a knighthood.

Services to scientific exploration were recognised with an MBE for Captain Christopher Elliott, the master mariner.

There are several awards for teachers in keeping with the government's resolve to keep education at the top of its list of priorities.

The list also honours scores of "ordinary" people, including teachers, a railway platform assistant and a lollipop lady. Many were nominated by their own communities.

The award-winning novelist and TV scriptwriter, William Boyd, got a CBE, as did Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the co-chairmen of Working Title Films, Britain's foremost production company.

The two have produced more than 70 films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bean, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones's Diary.

Peter Seabrook, the gardening writer, broadcaster, and gardening editor of the Sun, gets a CBE.

In the world of business, the retiring British Airways boss, Rod Eddington, described his knighthood as "a wonderful way" to round off his career.

In sport, an MBE was given to the former England striker Les Ferdinand and a CBE for the South African-born cricketer Basil D'Oliveira.

There was an OBE for Dave Sexton, the former manager of Chelsea and Manchester United.

SCOTS' HONOURS

A TRIO who have chalked up decades of service to Scottish schoolchildren are rewarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Dedicated lollipop lady, Moira Brown, has been awarded the MBE for her years keeping youngsters safe outside Millersneuk Primary School, Lenzie, in East Dunbartonshire.

Janitor William Mackland has been given the same honour for his tireless work at Aberdeen's Westerton Primary School.

Brenda McFarlane, the headteacher at Bothwellpark High School, Motherwell, has been awarded the OBE for her pioneering work in special-needs education.

Crossing warden Mrs Brown was excited and shocked when she learned of the award. The 54-year-old said: "I was absolutely gobsmacked. It was enough to know that someone had been kind enough to nominate me for an award, but now I am thrilled."

Mrs Brown has helped the children of Millersneuk to cross safely for almost 18 years. She said: "I really love my job and I will carry on doing it as long as I am fit and able."

Headteacher Mrs McFarlane dedicated her honour to the woman who inspired her to work with youngsters with special educational needs.

The 60-year-old Bothwell resident said: "Margery Browning, who is now the acting head of HM Inspectorate of Education, was nothing short of an inspiration to me."

Janitor Mr Mackland will be "blowing up a storm" to celebrate his honour today.

The 56-year-old Aberdonian, who is married to Linda and has two grown-up children, Melissa and Justin, said: "I'm a piper and I'm going to be playing at a wedding.

"I think I've earned a couple of drinks afterwards, though.

"I'm really chuffed."