Influential Lancashire figures recognised in New Year Honours List

Dawn Cheetham, who has served the North & Western Lancashire Chambers of Commerce as a non-executive director, has earned an MBE for services to business and to the community in the 2021 New Year Honours List.

She has played an instrumental role in the Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs) Foundation, a charity which raises funds and offer grants up to £5,000 to 16-24 years olds in the county to develop skills, expand and build businesses.

Dawn is also a director of Blackpool-based family firm Commercial Kitchen Services (CKS). She told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I think the link between young people and business is vitally important, whether it's through school or work, work experience or industry days. Letting the kids believe in themselves and aspire to something, and giving them the confidence they can, all of that blends together."

Ricky Sercombe, of Whitworth, received an MBE for his efforts to help vulnerable people through the coronavirus pandemic. Ricky is a data technologist at Brakes Foodservice, and he has been at the heart of delivering the government scheme to provide 450,000 food parcels a week to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals during the Covid-19 crisis.

Susan Henry received a BEM for services to midwifery in the NHS. She is the baby friendly lead at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and helped it to receive the first Unicef GOLD award in the country.

Richard Dugdale, 75, was honoured with a BEM for services to the community in Clitheroe. He has been involved in a number of projects, including driving a lorry full of aid supplies to the Ukraine in 1996 through to raising tens of thousands of pounds via his charity bike rides.

Former Olympian Peter Warden, of Preston, received a BEM for services to athletics in North West England. As well as representing Great Britain at the 1964 Olympics and winning two bronze medals at the 1966 Commonwealth Games, he has dedicated more than 60 years to coaching other athletes.

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