Lord-Lieutenant, Railway boss and NHS Director receive New Year Honours

THE Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, an NHS director and a railway company boss from Warrington were recognised in this year’s New Year honours list.

Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs, former owner of Dawsons Music on Sankey Street, will be made a commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in recognition of his duties as the Queen’s representative for Cheshire.
Meanwhile, Debbie Francis, from Croft, has received an OBE for services to women in the railway industry.
Currently managing director of Direct Rail Services, she left school at the age of 16 with virtually no qualifications but went on to graduate from Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining a masters.
She has more than 30 years of experience across a range of industries, including IT, infrastructure maintenance and railways and has most recently been studying for a PHD.
Meanwhile, Health Education England’s regional director of health libraries David Stewart, who lives in Warrington, has been awarded an MBE for services to the NHS and voluntary service to information management.
The New Year Honours List 2021, demonstrates the incredible efforts of hundreds of public sector and community workers throughout 2020 and beyond.
In a year that has truly tested the resolve and determination of those on the frontline, the New Year Honours List includes 1,239 recipients, recognised for their extraordinary contributions in all four nations of the United Kingdom.
Public sector workers makeup 14.8% of the list and include firefighters, medical professionals, teachers, police officers and local government workers – all of whom are being recognised for making a huge individual impact, and in particular in the response to COVID-19.