Five receive Honours in New Year List

Barrie Rutter, director of Halifax’s touring company Northern Broadsides, and Parkinson Lane Primary School headteacher Gugsy Ahmed have been awarded an OBE.

Calderdale’s Help in Bereavement Services (CHiBS) founder Jennifer Hirst has been awarded a British Empire Medal.

David Malcolm Horsman, Chairman of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded an MBE.

And Metropolitan Police Commander Peter Terry, who grew up in Mixenden, has been awarded a Queen’s Policing Medal.

Over the last 23 years, Barrie Rutter has been instrumental in establishing regional and international stature for the acclaimed Northern Broadsides, Dean Clough.

Barrie said: “After weeks of zipped lips it’s a relief and a pleasure to share the news, especially with nearest and dearest. To be awarded an OBE is a great honour and one which I am delighted to receive.

“Huge gratitude to those who nominated and championed me and also to my colleagues, friends and audiences of Northern Broadsides whom I share this award with.”

Former nurse, Jenny Hirst, is one of the founder members of the charity CHiBS, which for three decades has offered a support service for people dealing with bereavement.

She was awarded the Courier Community Spirit Award’s Outstanding Individual Award for long-standing service in the 2014 awards.

Gugsy Ahmed is the head of nationally accredited Parkinson Lane Primary School in Halifax.

This year he championed social cohesion between children of different faiths, ages and backgrounds in a inclusive project which saw 600 Calderdale children perform on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Mr Terry said: “I have had the privilege of working with some fantastic teams and I find it humbling to be singled out for this honour.

“It’s a reflection of all the people I have worked with.”

His mum Eileen Crossley said: “Me, his father George and all the family are so proud of him. There were a few tears when he told me!”