Some of the Midlands unsung heroes in a wide variety of fields have been recognised with some of the country’s highest honours in 2021's New Year's Honours.

Here is the full list:

 

British Empire Medal (BEM)

1.    Siraj Ali. For services to the community in Coventry, West Midlands particularly during Covid-19 (Coventry, West Midlands)

2.    Kathryn Mary Beale. For services to the communities of Dudley and Sandwell, West Midlands, particularly during Covid-19 (Bilston, West Midlands)

3.    Lianne Jayne Al-Khaldi. For services to the community in Stafford during Covid-19 (Stafford, Staffordshire)

4.    Dominique Léonie Claude Allen. Benevolent Fund Treasurer, Leicestershire Police. For services to Policing (Earl Shilton, Leicestershire)

5.    Donald Maynard Brown. Technology Volunteer. For voluntary service to Blind and Visually-Impaired People (Coventry, West Midlands)

6.    Karen Bussooa. Lately End of Life Care Facilitator, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS. Foundation Trust. For services to End of Life Care (Derby, Derbyshire)

7.    Rose Cook-Monk. For services to the community in Dudley, West Midlands (Dudley, West Midlands)

8.    Patricia Ann Court. For services to the community in Staffordshire (Worcester, Worcestershire)

9.    Sulakhan Singh Dard. Ambassador, British Heart Foundation. For services to Healthcare in the Sikh Community (Leicester, Leicestershire)

10.  Rabinder Singh Dhami. Prevention Manager, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire and Rescue (Telford, Shropshire)

11.  Marlene Ann Ferris. Women's Refuge Manager, Newark Women's Aid. For services to Victims of Domestic Abuse (Lowdham, Nottinghamshire)

12.  Julie Goodwin. (Julie Harrison) Sergeant, West Midlands Police. For services to Policing (Coventry, West Midlands)

13.  Adill Hadi. Senior Youth Worker, Concord Youth Centre, Yardley, Birmingham. For services to Vulnerable Young People during Covid-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands)

14.  Meena Hanspal. Charity Volunteer, Guru Nanak's Mission and Vegetarian Rasoi. For services to the Sikh community in Nottingham (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)

15.  Carolyn June Harbourne. Complaints Officer, Office of the Public Guardian. For services to Volunteering (Birmingham, West Midlands)

16.  Rosalie Veronica Jones. For services to the community in Birmingham (Birmingham, West Midlands)

17.  Franstine Cassandra Blandel Jones. Volunteer and Trustee, National Black Police Association. For services to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Suffolk (Kesgrave, Suffolk)

18.  Isobel Shirley Knowles. For services to the community in Moseley, Birmingham particularly during Covid-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands)

19.  Maurice Francis Malone. Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Irish Association. For services to the Irish Community in Birmingham during Covid-19 (Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire)

20.  Janice Mathias. Custody Visitor, West Midlands Police. For voluntary service to the Custody Visitor Scheme (Coventry, West Midlands)

21.  Amy Nicole Meek. Co-Founder, Kids Against Plastic. For voluntary service to the Natural Environment (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)

22.  Ella Jo Meek. Co-Founder, Kids Against Plastic. For voluntary service to the Natural Environment (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)

23.  Maurice Francis Malone. Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Irish Association. For services to the Irish Community in Birmingham during Covid-19 (Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire)

24.  Janice Mathias. Custody Visitor, West Midlands Police. For voluntary service to the Custody Visitor Scheme (Coventry, West Midlands)

25.  Paula Murray. Group Support Manager, Leicestershire County Council. For services to the Highway’s during Covid-19 (Leicester, Leicestershire)

26.  Edward O'Hara. Lately Chair, All Birmingham's Children Charity. For services to Children and Families (Birmingham, West Midlands)

27.  Reverend Keith Leslie Osmond-Smith. For services to the community in Telford, Shropshire, particularly during Covid-19 (Telford, Shropshire)

28.  Bansari Nilesh Ruparelia. For services to the Hindu Community in Leicestershire (Leicester, Leicestershire)

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

1.    Tanweer Ikram, Deputy Senior District Judge, Magistrates' Court. For services to Judicial Diversity. (Wolverhampton)

2.    Laura Manning Shoaf, Lately Managing Director, Transport for the West Midlands. For services to Economic Regeneration in the West Midlands.

Order of the British Empire (OBE)

1.    Alpesh Chauhan, Music Director, Birmingham Opera Company. For services to the Arts.

2.    Pauline Black, Singer, Actress and Author. For services to Entertainment.

3.    Helene Dearn, West Midlands Group Director, Work and Health Services, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service.

4.    Gulam Muhammad Ismail Teladia. Vice Chair, Birmingham Muslim Burial Council. For services to the community in Birmingham, particularly during Covid-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands)

By: Delroy Constantine-Simms