Full list of recipients of King’s birthday honours with local connections
King’s Birthday Honours recipients including, clockwise from top left, Nikki Thomas-Tapper, Christy Acton, Fleur Sexton, Jay Singh-Sohal and Noor Norris
Some 25 people, most of them unsung heroes, from across the West Midlands have been named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.
They include charity fundraisers, homeless campaigners and people who have dedicated their lives to health, education, law, public services and the arts.
Among the recipients is Nour Norris, who campaigned tirelessly for Raneem’s Law following the vicious killings of her niece and sister, whose warning calls to the police about their attacker were not heeded before they were murdered.
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As a result of her work, domestic abuse specialists are now embedded in police control rooms to ensure victims get the specialist response they need straight away.
Local BBC WM broadcaster Nikki Tapper receives an MBE for services to broadcasting and homeless campaigner Christy Acton is given a British Empire Medal.
Local honours largely go to people who stay out of the spotlight and are unknown outside their sector.
Nationally, footballing icon David Beckham, actor Gary Oldman and The Who singer Roger Daltrey are knighted. Strictly Come Dancing presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), while there also honours for teenage darts star Luke Littler and his rival Luke Humphries as both are made MBEs.
Actress and singer Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods.
Receiving a CBE (Commander of order of the British Empire) is James Barton, of Birmingham, Executive Director of HMPSS Change within the Prison and Probation service for public services.
Among those receiving OBEs (Order of the British Empire) are:
Nour Al-Houda Balich Norris, Solihull campaigner for SecureLife and advocate for Raneem’s Law, for services preventing violence against women and girls.
Prof Hanifa Shah, Birmingham Pro Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, for services to Higher Education.
Prof Fang Gao Smith, Birmingham Prof of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain at UHB Hospitals, for services to anaesthesia.
Jagjit (Jay) Singh Sohal, Birmingham, chair of the WW1 Sikh Memorial Fund, for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers who served Great Britain.
Receiving MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) are:
Peter Bill, Neurophysiology head of service and consultant clinical scientist, Birmingham Women’s and Children NHS Foundation Trust, for services to neurophysiology science
Surdarshan Singh Chana, Indian classical musician, for services to music and Sikh culture
Hafsha Dadabhai-Shaikh, director, Smartlyte – Get Families Talking, for services to digital inclusion
Fleur Sexton, who has received an MBE for her services to community in Coventry
Janet Harding, former Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator, Hamstead Junior School, Birmingham, for services to education
Joanne Jones, former headteacher, Story Wood School, Birmingham, for services to education.
Councillor Ram Kishan Mehmi, Walsall councillor for Pleck and trustee, Darlaston Temple, for services to faith and integration.
Prof Rachel O’Reilly, pro vice chancellor (research) at University of Birmingham, for services to chemistry
Wayne Parmel, Birmingham co-founder, ACE Dance and Music, for services to the arts
Sonia Sabri, Birmingham dance artist, for services to dance
BBC WM presenter Nikki Tapper is among the local recipients of Kings’ Birthday Honours, June 2025
Fleur Sexton, for services to the community in Coventry
Sarah Elizabeth Smith, Birmingham Diocesan director of education and chair of Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, for services to education.
Elizabeth Swift, Birmingham casework administration manager, Crown Prosecution Service, Birmingham, for services to law and order.
Nikki Thomas-Tapper, radio presenter, for services to broadcasting and to the community in the West Midlands.
Paul Stephen Wilsher, commercial support, Department for Education, for services to education.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire, or BEMs, go to:
Christy Acton, Birmingham founder and Chief Executive of Standing Tall, for services to the homeless in the West Midlands.
Kerrie Ann Green, Sergeant Major instructor, Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force, for services to the Army Cadet Force and to young people.
Carl Ledbury, trustee, The Ambulance Staff Charity, for services to ambulance staff.
Dr Peter Mayer, former public governor, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS
David Meredith, chair, Albany Theatre Trust, for services to theatre and to the community in Coventry.
David Payne, for services to the community in West Bromwich.
The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE said: “Right across the West Midlands there are amazing people who work hard to deliver a better, brighter and kinder place. These people are often known within their neighbourhoods but fail to gain the wider credit they deserve.”
Nour Norris, sister and aunt to murder victims, has been campaigning since in memory of her family members to improve police response
“This year’s recipients showcase a range of outstanding achievements and provide an insight into the region and the people that make it so great. We are all grateful for what they do every day, and I am absolutely delighted to see so many gain the recognition they deserve in the Birthday Honours.
“Through the activities of the West Midlands Lieutenancy, I come across many people providing support and giving their time to help others. Now more than ever, there are so many unsung heroes who deserve to be honoured but they need someone to nominate them.
“I would encourage people from across the region to get involved and think about who is making a difference so that we can continue to recognise these individuals for the great work they are doing.”
The individual honours are announced twice a year to mark The King’s official birthday in June and the New Year Honours announced at the end of December. Nomination details can be found on the West Midlands Lieutenancy website at www.wmlieutenancy.org.