A BRADFORD health worker praised for ‘saving thousands of lives’ and the chairman of Bradford Bulls are among those who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Claire Chadwick, nurse consultant and director for Infection Prevention at Bradford Royal Infirmary, has been awarded an MBE for her work in the field of infection prevention and control (IPC).

Her passion for infection prevention and control was sparked early on. “I trained at Sheffield School of Nursing and my first job on qualifying was on an infectious diseases ward and you could say I caught the bug! I found it so varied and fascinating,” said Claire, who has served as treasurer of the Infection Prevention Society.

She added: “IPC certainly keeps you on your toes as there are never two days alike and it is something that touches all areas of a hospital. You have to be able to adapt to any situation, which also gives you the opportunity to meet lots of different people.

“I want to pay tribute to the team which has worked brilliantly. Colleagues have worked non-stop, having to adapt to guidance which has been constantly changing. I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Bulls chairman Nigel Wood has been awarded the OBE for his services to rugby league.

Nigel, a proud Bradfordian who has been at the forefront of the moves to bring the Bulls back to the city since a change of ownership at the club in 2019, previously spent 18 years with the Rugby Football League – 12 of them as chief executive – and then became chair of the game’s International Federation.

“I am surprised, humbled and extremely honoured to be recognised like this,” Nigel said. “It has been the privilege of my life to have served the sport that I love; across a number of positions over the years..

"I would like to thank my family for their enduring love and sacrifice and my friends and colleagues for their continuing encouragement and support.”

Jemma Gilbert, who grew up in Bradford, living in Bankfoot and Shipley, is director of Healthy London Partnership and was awarded an OBE for services to healthcare helping those sleeping rough in London during Covid-19.

Jemma said: “M y work on homelessness in London during the Covid pandemic led me back to Bradford and Bevan Healthcare CIC who have inspired my colleagues and I to consider new models of healthcare for the homeless in London that the Mayor of London is now advocating.”

Another Bevan Healthcare employee, Anne Connolly, has been awarded an MBE for services to primary care women’s health in Bradford. A GP who has practised in Bradford since 1990, Anne also worked for Bradford CCG from 2003 to 2020.

She said: “I am stunned and honoured to receive this award. I have been privileged to work with many others to raise the profile of women’s health needs so that women receive the quality holistic care they need and deserve.”

Ilkley’s Anne Longfield, who already has an OBE, received a CBE for services to children. She is the Children’s Commissioner for England.

Other MBE recipients include Shipley’s Vivianne Brealey, deputy director of communications at Public Health England, for services to Public Health during Covid-19; Bradford’s Sofia Mahmood, director of Empowering Minds, for services to education; Brighouse’s Elizabeth Whetham, executive headteacher at Holy Trinity Primary School, Halifax, for services to education; and Jay Blades, a furniture restorer, designer and presenter, who is currently filming in Bradford, for services to craft.

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) recipients include: Bradford’s Nagina Akhter, for services to the community in Bradford during Covid-19; Bingley’s Michelle Chapman, for services to the community in Bingley during Covid-19; Bradford’s Mohammed Imran, for services to the community in Bradford; Bradford’s Humayun Islam, for services to the community in Bradford; Skipton’s Stephanie Phillip, for services to dance and musical theatre; Keighley’s Ernest Pickles, for services to young people and the community; Keighley’s Margaret Frances Smith JP, for services to the community in Keighley.

West Yorkshire Police had two men, constable Christopher Madden and detective chief superintendent Martin Snowden, receive the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM).