SEVERAL high-profile figures in Bradford have seen their names appear on The Queen’s New Year honours list.

It includes the Chief Executive at Bradford Council and the widow of a former rugby league star.

Kersten England has occupied the top post at the Council since August 2015 and has received the highest ranked honour from those across Bradford, who feature on the list.

She was awarded a CBE for her services to the economy and to the community in Bradford.

She said: "It is very humbling to be recognised in the New Year's honours as we enter a new decade and 30 years on from my first job in local government as a training officer in the HR department at Kirklees Council.

"I have wanted to play my part in securing the best possible quality of life for the people, neighbourhoods and communities wherever I have worked.

"Doing that can be exciting and rewarding; it can also be challenging at times."

The senior council figure also holds a number of other high profile roles - including being on the University of Bradford council - and has vast experience in top public sector jobs.

She said: "Despite my Edinburgh accent I regard myself as a bona fide Bradfordian.

"My heart never truly left Bradford.

"My children grew up and were educated here and it's the place that I have lived in for longest in my life.

"I consider it an honour to serve this extraordinary city and district."

Lizzie Jones – widow of Keighley Cougars and Wales rugby league star Danny – was awarded an MBE.

She was recognised for her services to rugby league and charity.

Mrs Jones, 35, said: "I’m still in pure shock but I couldn’t be prouder."

She set-up the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund in 2015 after her husband suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in May that year, and died.

The project - which aims to provide defibrillators for rugby league clubs up and down the country and is run in conjunction with the RFL Benevolent Fund - has so far raised over £150,000.

Its remit was extended to other sports and community groups and, to date, more than 80 defibrillators have been distributed.

Juliet Wright, Headteacher at Bankfoot Primary School, has been recognised for her services to Families and Children with an OBE.

Under her stewardship the school has become "Outstanding" by Ofsted's terms.

There were also OBEs for Carol Dewhurst, Chief Executive Officer at Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, and Owen Williams, Chief Executive of the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.

The former was recognised for her services to education, while Mr Williams for services to Healthcare in West Yorkshire.

He joined the Trust in 2012, from Calderdale Council where he was also Chief Executive.

He said: "As a working class black lad from Bradford, I am really pleased and honoured to have been recognised for my contribution to healthcare across West Yorkshire.

"Growing up taught me that life would never be straight forward but with the right support and love from family, friends and work colleagues, anything is possible.

"The number of people who have challenged and guided me over the years are too many to mention individually, but you know who you are, and I thank you for your wise words and I really do hope that you continue to keep me grounded in the service of others."

Here is the full list of those from our area:

CBE

  • KERSTEN ENGLAND, Chief Executive at Bradford Council. For services to the Economy and to the community in Bradford.

OBE:

  • JULIET WRIGHT, Headteacher at Bankfoot Primary School, Bradford. For services to Families and Children.
  • OWEN ALMANDO WILLIAMS, Chief Executive at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Healthcare in West Yorkshire.
  • CAROL ANN DEWHURST, Chief Executive Officer at Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust. For services to Education.
  • JULIE JARVIS, Head of Commercial Engagement and Development at HM Revenue and Customs. For public service. (West Yorkshire)
  • KATHLEEN MARY RICHARDSON, Senior Manager of Child Protection Team, National Crime Agency. For services to Law Enforcement. (WY)
  • DAVID TOOLE, For services to Dance and to People with Disabilities. (WY)

MBE:

  • ELIZABETH JONES, For services to Rugby League Football and to Charity.
  • COL PATRICK CAIRNS, DL. Chief Executive, St George's Police Children's Trust and Police Treatment Centres Charities. For services to Police Charities. (WY)
  • FRANCIS STEPHEN CLAYTON, Chair at Yorkshire and the Humber Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. For services to Apprenticeships. (WY)
  • ROBERT GRICE, Formerly Member British Hallmarking Council. For services to Hallmarking Law. (WY)
  • HATICE HASAN, Founder and Chief Executive at Officer Stopcocks. For services to Women in the Heating and Plumbing Industry. (WY)
  • GERTRUDE SILMAN, Life President at Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association. For services to Holocaust Education. (WY)
  • PATRICIA WILKINSON, Senior Officer at HM Revenue and Customs. For services to Diversity and Inclusion. (WY)
  • LT COL MARK KEVIN HUNTER, TD. V.R., The Yorkshire Regiment, Army Reserve.

BEM:

  • AMY HEARN, For services to Libraries. (WY)
  • ALAN TERENCE STUDD: For services to Young People and to the community in West Yorkshire.
  • DAVID EDWARD TAYLOR, LL. For services to community Fundraising and Volunteering. (WY)

QAM:

  • TREVOR BALDWIN, Senior Manager Emergency Operations Centre, Yorkshire Ambulance NHS Trust.