London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Proud Sandgrownuns honoured in Queen's annual list of Britain's best and brightest

Proud Sandgrownuns honoured in Queen's annual list of Britain's best and brightest

Five proud Sandgrownuns graced the list of the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of their tremendous efforts to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Homeless charity founder Chris Conway, entertainer Emma Jackson, former radio host and journalist Andy Mitchell, businessman Dilip Kumar Gurung, and head teacher Matthew Hood have each been awarded either an MBE or BEM for their various acts of kindness.

A total of 32 people in the North West were granted the honours this year.

CHRIS CONWAY

Chris Conway


Chris Conway, 27, founded the homeless outreach group United Blackpool in 2018. The group later joined forces with local soup kitchen Amazing Graze, and the two organisations now work together to provide hot meals, clothes and support to people living on the resort’s streets.

As founder of United, Chris takes part in a weekly community watch, patrolling the town and looking for homeless people in need. He works with a supported living company and drugs and alcohol rehab specialists to help those who are struggling with substance abuse.

He was awarded an MBE for his efforts.

He said: “I’m absolutely astonished. I still to this day think it’s a wind-up. It’s such an honour to be included. The work I do I don’t do for rewards, it’s something I do because I love doing it, but to be recognised with an MBE is very humbling.”


Andy Mitchell


Chris is also a charity ambassador for Network Rail, and last year raised £4,500 for Amazing Graze at a sleep-out in Blackpool’s North Station.

“The work I do is to look after homeless people, but not only them but anyone down on their luck and in need of support,” he said.

“We’re out every Thursday night lending our support and showing a friendly face.

“Though I love my work, my theory is that in 10 years, if I’m still feeding homeless people I will feel like I have failed. For the rest of my life I will be helping people and this MBE is going to give me more of a platform and ability to do that. But there shouldn’t be homeless people in Britain in 2020.”


Dilip Kumar Gurung


EMMA JACKSON


Emma Jackson, 31, found herself out of work as a children’s entertainer on the Central Pier at the beginning of lockdown.

During this difficult time, she used her skills to provide weekly musical entertainment to old folks in care homes, set up arts and crafts sessions for children, and practice online with the Revoe-lution community choir, which she leads.

She was awarded a BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.


Matthew Hood


She said: “It’s amazing. I cried. It’s just wonderful.

“There’s no way to put it into words. To know what somebody has taken the time to nominate me is lovely and to think that I’ll be able to go to the royal garden party at some point is the most exciting thing ever. Of course my first thought is what am I going to wear!

“Being a full-time entertainer you’re always on the go so it did really affect me when we went into lockdown, but everything in my life is glass-half-full and the thought was that I could do something to keep morale up. I don’t like to see anyone feeling down or struggling.”

ANDY MITCHELL


Andy Mitchell, 57, is best known as a voice for Blackpool, as he was a news editor for Radio Wave for 30 years.

He lends his commentating skills to charity events for Brian House Children’s Hospice, the Guide Dogs and the Carers’ Trust.

He is also the voice of Blackpool’s public transport, reading the stops on buses and trams.

He said: “I’m extremely proud. I never thought I’d be included in something like this.

“When you get involved in your community things happen all the time and you don’t think what you’re doing is anything special. It just becomes part of your landscape of life.

“I’m proud to be a part of the Blackpool community. I have been very lucky.

“I was at Radio Wave for nearly 30 years and, with The Gazette, we became a part of local society. You’re part of the fabric of the town and that’s what makes you proud, because you’re doing your best for the town.

“I’ve never stopped being thrilled to be asked to stand on one of the town’s stages or get involved in a charity or be useful.”

DILIP KUMAR GURUNG


Dilip was awarded an MBE for his services to the Nepalese community both in the UK and abroad.

He has helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years in aid of impoverished Nepalese communities, contributing to the building of a football stadium, a boarding school, two primary schools, a museum and a health centre.

His friend Nigel Hissey said: "How one man can find this resolve is beyond me and undoubtedly without his involvement in the plethora of projects he has undertaken, very many individuals, families and communities would be very much worse off.

"His drive and enthusiasm is endless and yet, he is very much a quiet and gentle individual whom, along with his devoted wife and family, gets what he wants for the good and benefit of all others – especially the underprivileged, poor and needy of our society."

MATTHEW HOOD


Matthew Hood, 34, who grew up in Blackpool and is now the head teacher of Oak National Academy in Morecambe, was awarded an OBE for his contributions to education.

During lockdown he set up Oak, a national online hub for schools to support pupils with home learning.

It offers more than 10,000 lessons for reception through to year 11 across a broad range of subjects, as well as specialist lessons for disabled pupils.

He said:“It was local teachers who created my passion for education and making sure every child has the best start in life.”

“When Covid forced schools to go into lockdown, I was lucky enough to work with a team of talented teachers and colleagues to create an online classroom. This honour is for that team, as without their tireless work Oak National Academy wouldn’t have been able to help children continue learning.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×