The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order.
Lady Mary Elizabeth Peters, is a Northern Irish former athlete and athletics administrator. She is best known as the 1972 Olympic champion in the pentathlon, for which she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. Peters was named as Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter on 27 February 2019. She was installed in St. George's Chapel, the chapel of the Order, on Garter Day, 17 June.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) is an independent advisory non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom with oversight of some aspects of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It has two roles:
Dame Imogen Cooper, is an English pianist.
The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast is the official representative of The King for the 'County Borough of Belfast', Northern Ireland. The current Lord Lieutenant is Dame Fionnuala Mary Jay-O'Boyle, DBE, who was appointed in July 2014. The position was first created in 1900 and was held by The 6th Marquess of Londonderry. The role is largely honorary with the few formal duties relating to liaising with the King's private office in the lead up to visits to the City regarding issues of local concern and the presentation of awards on behalf of the King. The High Sheriff of Belfast is theoretically the King's judicial representative in the city, while the Lord Lieutenant is the Sovereign's personal representative.
Marie Adelaide Freeman-Thomas, Marchioness of Willingdon, was a daughter of Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey. On 20 July 1892, she married Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, the future Governor General of Canada and Viceroy of India. They had two sons, Lieutenant Gerard Frederick Freeman-Thomas, killed, aged 21, in the First World War, and Inigo Brassey Freeman-Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Willingdon.
Dame Rotha Geraldine Diane Johnston, DBE is a Northern Irish entrepreneur in commerce and property. Johnston is chair of Northern Ireland Screen, a non-executive director of Northern Ireland Electricity and an independent board member of the Department of Justice and Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
Dame Janet Frances de Botton, is a British art collector and philanthropist.
Dame Karen Elisabeth Dind Jones is a British business executive.
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, is a British businesswoman. She is the Founder and Executive Chair of the fintech Snoop. She was the CEO of Virgin Money from 2007 to 2018.
Dame Clare Lucy Marx was a British surgeon who was president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from July 2014 to July 2017, the first woman to hold the position, and former chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. From January 2019 until July 2021, Dame Clare was chair of the General Medical Council, the first woman appointed to that role.
Dame Madeleine Julia Atkins, is a British academic administrator, scholar of education, and former teacher. Since 2018, she has served as the 9th President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. She was formerly vice-chancellor of Coventry University, and the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (2014–2018).
Dame Vivienne Cox, is a British businesswoman, chairman of the supervisory board of Vallourec, the French multinational steel components company.
Dame Kathryn Alexandra McDowell, is a British classical musician and businessperson. Since 2005, she has been the managing director of the London Symphony Orchestra.
As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operational honours and other honours awarded outside the New Years Honours and Birthday Honours.
Dame Irene Lucas-Hays is a British businesswoman and former civil servant, and the chair of Hays Travel, the largest independent travel agent in the UK, which she jointly owned with her husband John Hays until his death in 2020.
Dame Julie Ann Kenny is the interim chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Chair of Trustees of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.
As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operational honours, political honours and other honours awarded outside the New Years Honours and Birthday Honours.
Dame Hilary Anne Chapman, is a British former Chief Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Professor at Sheffield Hallam University. She was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire on 5 November 2021.
As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operational honours, political honours and other honours awarded outside the New Years Honours and Birthday Honours.
