Sporting New Year's Honours List

[EddieG]

Not sporting related, but while Adam's in here, Ben Parkinson's getting an MBE.

[METALMAN]

Such awards are given out far too quickly these days. Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie would be my choice for the higher honours for men as they've proved it over loadsa years.

Absolutely.

It was worst when the England team that won the Ashes in 2005 were all given honours. Paul Collingwood MBE barely played five minutes!

[MJB]

Knighthood: Ben Ainslie - sailing, Bradley Wiggins - cycling

Dame: Sarah Storey - cycling

CBE: Katherine Grainger - rowing, Jessica Ennis - athletics, Mo Farah - athletics, Victoria Pendleton - cycling, David Weir - athletics

OBE: Charlotte Dujardin - equestrian, Jason Kenny - cycling, Andy Murray - tennis, Laura Trott - cycling, Sophie Christiansen - equestrian, Ellie Simmonds - swimming

MBE: Nicola Adams - boxing, Tim Baillie - canoeing, Laura Bechtolsheimer - equestrian, Scott Brash - equestrian, Alistair Brownlee - triathlon, Steven Burke - cycling, Luke Campbell - boxing, Peter Charles - equestrian, Katherine Copeland - rowing, Helen Glover - rowing, Alex Gregory - rowing, Carl Hester - equestrian, Philip Hindes - cycling, Sophie Hosking - rowing, Jade Jones - taekwondo, Anthony Joshua - boxing, Peter Kennaugh - cycling, Dani King - cycling, Mary King - equestrian, Ben Maher - equestrian, Ed McKeever - canoeing, Joanna Rowsell - cycling, Greg Rutherford - athletics, Louis Smith - gymnastics, Heather Stanning - rowing, Etienne Stott - canoeing, Anna Watkins - rowing, Peter Wilson - shooting, Jessica-Jane Applegate - athletics, Natasha Baker - equestrian, Danielle Brown - archery, Mickey Bushell - athletics, Hannah Cockroft - athletics, Mark Colbourne - cycling, Josef Craig - swimming, Deborah Criddle - equestrian, Aled Davies - athletics, Neil Fachie - cycling, Jonathan Fox - swimming, Heather Frederiksen - swimming, Oliver Hynd - swimming, Helena Lucas - sailing, Craig MacLean - cycling, Nigel Murray - boccia, Jonnie Peacock - athletics, Josie Pearson - athletics, Pam Relph - rowing, Naomi Riches - rowing, James Roe - rowing, David Smith - rowing, Lily van den Broecke - rowing, Sophie Wells - equestrian, Richard Whitehead - athletics.

[Lineker]

Yup, and here is (finally) the full list:

OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

Charles Benedict Ainslie, CBE. Finn Sailor. For services to Sailing.

(Cornwall)

David John Brailsford, CBE. Performance director, British Cycling. For services

to Cycling and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Derbyshire)

David Whitlock Tanner, CBE. Performance director, British Rowing. For services

to Rowing and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Middlesex)

Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Lancashire)

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

DBE

Mrs Sarah Joanne Storey, OBE. Cyclist. For services to Para-Cycling. (Greater

Manchester)

CBE

Miss Jessica Ennis, MBE. Heptathlete. For services to Athletics. (South

Yorkshire)

Mohamed Farah. Athlete. For services to Athletics. (London)

Miss Katherine Jane Grainger, MBE. Rower. For services to Rowing. (Berkshire)

Miss Victoria Louise Pendleton, MBE. Cyclist. For services to Cycling.

(Cheshire)

David Russell Weir, MBE. Wheelchair Athlete. For services to Athletics.

(London)

OBE

Ms Sophie Margaret Christiansen, MBE. Para-Equestrian. For services to

Equestrianism. (Berkshire)

Miss Charlotte Dujardin. Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Gloucestershire)

Jason Francis Kenny, MBE. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Greater

Manchester)

Andrew Murray. Tennis Player. For services to Tennis. (London)

Miss Eleanor Mary Simmonds, MBE. Swimmer. For services to Paralympic Sport.

(West Glamorgan)

Miss Laura Trott. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Hertfordshire)

MBE

Miss Nicola Adams. Boxer. For services to Boxing. (West Yorkshire)

Miss Jessica-Jane Applegate. Swimmer. For services to Swimming. (Norfolk)

Timothy Mark Baillie. Slalom Canoeist. For services to Canoeing.

(Nottinghamshire)

Miss Natasha Baker. Para-Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Middlesex)

Miss Laura Bechtolsheimer. Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Gloucestershire)

Scott Brash. Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism. (Tweeddale)

Miss Danielle Brown. Archer. For services to Archery. (Shropshire)

Malcolm Brown. Olympic Triathlon Performance manager. For services to Triathlon

and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (West Yorkshire)

Alistair Edward Brownlee. Triathlete. For services to Triathlon. (West

Yorkshire)

Steven James Burke. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Lancashire)

Michael Bushell. Wheelchair Athlete. For services to Athletics. (Shropshire)

Luke Campbell. Amateur Boxer. For services to Boxing. (East Riding of

Yorkshire)

Peter Charles. Showjumper. For services to Equestrianism. (Hampshire)

Miss Hannah Cockroft. Athlete. For services to Athletics. (West Yorkshire)

Mark Colbourne. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Monmouthshire)

Ian Coley. Team manager, British Shooting. For services to Target Shooting and

the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Gloucestershire)

William James Gray Connell. Performance director, British Equestrian

Federation. For services to Equestrianism and the London 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Games. (Leicestershire)

Miss Katherine Copeland. Rower, Lightweight Women's Double Scull. For services

to Rowing. (Durham)

Josef Craig. Swimmer. For services to Paralympic Sport. (Tyne and Wear)

Mrs Deborah Criddle. Para-Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Somerset)

Aled Sion Davies. Discus Athlete. For services to Athletics. (Cardiff)

Neil Fachie. Cyclist. For services to Para-Cycling. (Greater Manchester)

Jonathan Fox. Swimmer. For services to Swimming. (Cornwall)

Miss Heather Frederiksen. Swimmer. For services to Swimming. (Cheshire)

Miss Helen Glover. Rower, Women's Pairs. For services to Rowing. (Berkshire)

Alex Gregory. Rower, Men's Fours. For services to Rowing. (Oxfordshire)

Paul Arthur Hall. National Technical Support Coach, British Gymnastics. For

services to Gymnastics and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(Cambridgeshire)

Carl Hester. Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism. (Gloucestershire)

Philip Hindes. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Greater Manchester)

Miss Sophie Hannah Marguerite Hosking. Rower, Lightweight Women's Double Scull.

For services to Rowing. (London)

David John Howlett. Coach, British Sailing. For services to Sailing and the

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Hampshire)

Anthony Hughes. National Performance manager, Disability Sport Wales. For

services to Paralympic Sport and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(The Vale of Glamorgan)

Oliver Hynd. Swimmer. For services to Swimming. (Nottinghamshire)

Ms Jade Jones. Taekwondo Athlete. For services to Taekwondo. (Greater

Manchester)

Anthony Joshua. Amateur Boxer. For services to Boxing. (London)

Peter Kennaugh. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Isle of Man)

Miss Danielle King. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Hampshire)

Mrs Mary Elizabeth King. Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Warwickshire)

Miss Helena Lucas. Keelboat Sailor. For services to Sailing. (Hampshire)

Craig Maclean. Cycling Pilot. For services to Cycling and Paralympic Sport.

(Cheshire)

Benjamin Maher. Showjumper. For services to Equestrianism. (Hertfordshire)

Robert McCracken. Performance director, British Amateur Boxing Association. For

services to Boxing and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Essex)

Edward Daniel McKeever. Kayaker. For services to Kayaking. (Buckinghamshire)

Nigel Patrick Murray. Paralympic Boccia Player. For services to Boccia.

(Warwickshire)

Jonathan Peacock. Sprinter. For services to Athletics. (Cambridgeshire)

Ms Josie Rachel Pearson. Discus Athlete. For services to Athletics.

(Herefordshire)

Miss Pamela Lillian Relph. Rower, Mixed Coxed Four. For services to Rowing.

(Buckinghamshire)

Miss Naomi Riches. Rower, Mixed Coxed Four. For services to Rowing.

(Buckinghamshire)

James Roe. Rower, Mixed Coxed Four. For services to Rowing. (Warwickshire)

Miss Joanna Rowsell. Cyclist. For services to Cycling. (Greater Manchester)

Gregory James Rutherford. Long Jumper. For services to Athletics.

(Hertfordshire)

David Smith. Rower, Mixed Coxed Four. For services to Rowing.

(Inverness-shire)

Louis Antoine Smith. Gymnast. For services to Gymnastics. (London)

Miss Heather Mary Stanning. Rower, Women's Pairs. For services to Rowing.

(Berkshire)

Etienne Stott. Slalom Canoeist. For services to Canoeing. (Nottinghamshire)

Paul Anthony Thompson. Coach, British Rowing. For services to Rowing and the

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (London)

Miss Lily Van Den Broecke. Cox. For services to Rowing and Paralympic Sport.

(Durham)

Mrs Anna Rose Watkins. Rower. For services to Rowing. (Berkshire)

Ms Sophie Wells. Para-Equestrian. For services to Equestrianism.

(Nottinghamshire)

Richard Whitehead. Sprinter. For services to Athletics. (Nottinghamshire)

Robin Williams. British Olympic Rowing Coach. For services to Rowing.

(Oxfordshire)

Peter Robert Russell Wilson. Double Trap Shooter. For services to Shooting.

(Dorset)

ORDER OF THE COMPANIONS OF HONOUR

CH

Sebastian Newbold Baron Coe, KBE. Chair, LOCOG. For services to the London 2012

Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Surrey)

Professor Peter Ware Higgs. Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics,

University of Edinburgh. For services to Physics. (Edinburgh)

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

Professor George Thomas Berwick, CBE. Headteacher, Ravens Wood School, Bromley,

Kent. For services to Education. (Leigh on Sea, Essex)

Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE. Illustrator. For services to Illustration. (London)

Professor Keith Burnett, CBE, FRS. Vice-Chancellor, University of Sheffield.

For services to Science and Higher Education. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)

Professor Ian David Diamond, FRSE. Principal and vice-Chancellor, University of

Aberdeen. For services to Social Science and Higher Education. (Aberdeen)

Kenneth Henry Grange, CBE. Industrial Designer. For services to Design.

(London)

Michael Aron Heller. Philanthropist. For charitable services. (London)

Peter Gerard Hendy, CBE. Commissioner, Transport for London. For services to

Transport and the community. (Bath, Somerset)

Bernard Hogan-Howe, QPM. Commissioner, Metropolitan Police. For services to

Policing. (London)

John Mark Nicholas Leighton. Director general, National Galleries of Scotland.

For services to Art. (Edinburgh)

Martin James Narey. Ministerial Adviser on Adoption. For services to Vulnerable

People. (Whitby, North Yorkshire)

Robert Stephen O'Brien, CBE. Chairman, Barts Health NHS Trust. For services to

Healthcare and to the community in London. (Braintree, Essex)

Professor David Neil Payne, CBE, FRS. Director, Optoelectronics Research

Centre, University of Southampton. For services to Photonics Research and

Applications. (Southampton)

Hector William Hepburn Sants. Formerly chief executive Officer, Financial

Services Authority. For services to Financial Services and Regulation.

(Oxfordshire)

Richard Charles Scrimgeour Shepherd. Member of Parliament for Aldridge

Brownhill. For public service. (Walsall, West Midlands)

Martin Gregory Smith. Philanthropist. For charitable services to Education, the

Arts and Science. (Oxford, Oxfordshire)

Christopher Stone. Executive Headteacher, The Arthur Terry and Stockland Green

Schools, Birmingham. For services to Education. (Atherstone, West Midlands)

Professor Hew Francis Anthony Strachan, DL. Chichele Professor of the History

of War, All Souls Oxford. For services to the Ministry of Defence. (Biggar,

Lanarkshire)

Professor Simon Charles Wessely. For services to Military Healthcare and to

Psychological Medicine. (London)

Nicholas Stephen Williams. Formerly Principal of The BRIT School, Croydon. For

services to Education. (London)

David Hugh Wootton. Lord Mayor of London. For services to Legal Business,

Charity and the City of London. (Kent)

Dr Hossein Yassaie. Chief executive Officer, Imagination Technologies Group.

For services to Technology and Innovation. (Kings Langley, Hertfordshire)

ORDER OF THE BATH

DCB

Mrs Ursula Brennan. Permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice. For public and

voluntary service. (London)

KCB

Jonathan Evans. For services to Defence. (London)

Robert James Rogers. Clerk of the House and chief executive, House of Commons.

For parliamentary and public service. (Blakemere, Herefordshire)

CB

Jeremy John Beeton. Director-General, Government Olympic Executive. For

services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Staindrop, Durham)

Miss Mridul Hegde. Director, Financial Stability, HM Treasury. For services to

the Stabilisation of the British Banking System. (London)

Trevor John Llanwarne. Government Actuary. For services to the Actuarial

Profession and Public Finances and to Public Service Pension Reform. (Sevenoaks,

Kent)

Stephen Augustus Lovegrove. Chief executive, Shareholder Executive. For

services to the Government as Shareholder. (London)

Oswyn George Paulin. Head of Government Legal Service, Northern Ireland

Executive. For services to Government in Northern Ireland and voluntary service

through the Scout Association. (Belfast)

Mrs Alison Saunders. Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, Crown Prosecution

Service. For services to Law and Order especially after the 2011 London Riots.

(London)

Dr Michael William Weightman. Her Majesty's chief Nuclear Inspector, Office for

Nuclear Regulation, Health and Safety Executive. For services to the Improvement

of Nuclear Safety. (Chester, Cheshire)

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

KCVO

Charles James Dugdale The Lord Crathorne. Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Martin Dunne. Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire.

Capt John David Bingham Younger, LVO. Lord-Lieutenant of Tweeddale.

CVO

Roy Thomas Brown, LVO. Deputy Property Services director, London Palaces, Royal

Household.

Jonathan Mark Marsden, LVO. Director of the Royal Collection and Surveyor of

The Queen's Works of Art.

Mrs Miriam Ray Watts, LVO. Formerly head of Personnel and Administration to the

Household of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

LVO

Clive Alderton. Formerly private secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Nicholas Robert Hugh John Hall. Senior director, HSBC Global Asset Management.

Mrs Rosemary Hamer. Deputy private secretary to The Earl and Countess of

Wessex.

Mrs Heather Jane Hancock. Formerly Trustee, The Prince's Trust.

Patrick Richard Harverson. Communications secretary to The Prince of Wales and

The Duchess of Cornwall.

Lt Col Patrick Roy Holcroft, OBE, DL. Trustee, The Grenadier Guards Regimental

Trust.

Mrs Catherine Mary Jones, MVO. Personnel Officer, Royal Household.

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Henry Kyle, CB, MBE. Gentleman Usher to The Queen.

Lt Col Alexander Fergus Matheson Of Matheson. Yr., secretary, Central Chancery

of the Orders of Knighthood.

Anthony James Moxon Lowther-Pinkerton, MVO, MBE. Private secretary and Equerry

to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Henry of Wales.

Brian Alan Ernest Stanley, MVO, RVM. Stud Groom, Royal Paddocks, Hampton Court

Palace.

David John Wilson, MVO. Farm manager, Duchy Home Farm.

Dhruv Manmohan Sawhney. Formerly chairman, International Liaison Group of The

Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences.

MVO

Mrs Alison Jane Burke, MBE. Formerly Personal assistant to The private

secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to The Prince of Wales and The

Duchess of Cornwall.

Leslie Edwin Chappell, RVM. House manager and assistant to the Master of the

Household to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Andrew Michael Fiddaman. Formerly manager director, The Prince of Wales's Youth

Business International.

Ian Michael Grant. Production Controller, Royal Collection Enterprises.

Mrs Margaret Jean Haines. Lieutenancy Officer, Berkshire.

Chief Inspector Vincent John Hoar. Metropolitan Police. For services to Royalty

Protection.

Inspector Richard Johnathon Lett. Metropolitan Police. For services to Royalty

Protection.

Miss Alison Flora MacMillan. Deputy director of Protocol and assistant Marshal

of the Diplomatic Corps.

Mrs Jacqueline Meakin, RVM. Dresser to The Duchess of Cornwall.

Mrs Clara Pearce. Assistant Treasurer, Household of The Prince of Wales and The

Duchess of Cornwall.

Superintendent John Greg Peters. Formerly director for Strategic Partnerships

and Heritage, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Christopher Roy Stevens. Superintendent of the Royal Collection, Hampton Court

Palace.

Rustom Tata. Partner, DMH Stallard.

ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL

Bar to RVM

Robert William Turvey, RVM. Formerly Sawmill Sales manager, Sandringham

Estate.

RVM

Mrs Doreen Elizabeth Fraser. Daily Lady, Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Patrick Greenfield. Facilities Co-ordinator, The Prince's Trust.

John Stuart Heighway. Lay Clerk, St. George's Chapel.

Thomas Lee. Formerly head Warden, Crown Estate, Windsor.

Anthony Charles Martin. Palace Attendant, Windsor Castle.

Miss Frances Anne McCaffery. Principal Attendant, Government House, Wellington,

New Zealand.

Arthur Pottinger. General assistant, California Store, Windsor Castle.

Miss Michelle Redpath. Switchboard Operator, Royal Household.

Div Sgt Maj Peter Saul. The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard.

Stephen Harry Searle. Formerly Forestry manager, Crown Estate, Windsor.

Miss Marion Jennett Wortley. Principal Attendant, Government House, Wellington,

New Zealand.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I can live with Sir Ben Ainslie. Happy days.

Fake mods shouldn't be allowed to be a Sir.

[Colly]

Such awards are given out far too quickly these days. Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie would be my choice for the higher honours for men as they've proved it over loadsa years.

Absolutely.

It was worst when the England team that won the Ashes in 2005 were all given honours. Paul Collingwood MBE barely played five minutes!

What a five minutes that was.

[Adam]

Not sporting related, but while Adam's in here, Ben Parkinson's getting an MBE.

Brilliant news, he really deserves it.

One of our owners Terry Bramall is also earning a CBE for services to charity.

[brenchill]

Must be great getting a knighthood. I for one would be honoured to share the same title as Jimmy Saville.

[9 to 5]

As long as that's all you shared with him.

[Vamp]

Must be great getting a knighthood. I for one would be honoured to share the same title as Jimmy Saville.

I'm pretty sure Saville's already lost it. I'm sure technically you lose it once you die don't you? That's why I've been confused at people trying to strip Saville of something he doesn't actually have anymore. Since that would seemingly mean you have to drag his corpse out, knight him and then take it away from him. Seems a lot of effort.

[Colly]

Yet still more entertaining than anything on ITV.

[Lineker]

Former Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe says members of the New Year honours committee made a "big mistake" in not recognising more Paralympic athletes.

He said Paralympians were not put on an equal footing with Olympic medallists and that was a "missed opportunity".

Wheelchair athlete David Weir, who received a CBE after winning four gold medals, has suggested Paralympians have to work harder to earn recognition.

Cyclist Sarah Storey became a dame, the top award to a Paralympian this year.

Olympic cyclist Bradley Wiggins and sailor Ben Ainslie were knighted, along with cycling and rowing performance directors Dave Brailsford and David Tanner.

One Paralympian, David Weir was awarded the CBE, with four Olympians receiving the same award.

In total, 29 athletes from ParalympicsGB were recognised following their achievements in the summer.

Mr Sutcliffe told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "If you remember, at the start of the year there was confusion over whether the Olympians and Paralympians would get honours; the committee said it was unlikely. We managed to get them to change their mind and have a separate category for Olympians and Paralympians."

Saying they had had made a "big mistake" in not awarding the highest honour to Paralympians like Weir, he said: "There was an opportunity to be consistent and if you look at his record over several Olympics I think the least he should have got is a knighthood.

"Because the whole purpose of the Games was to inspire a generation - and how better to inspire a generation of Paralympians than to give somebody a knighthood?"

Six-time Paralympic gold medallist Weir told the Daily Telegraph he would have been disappointed if Storey had not been made a dame, which she had deserved after winning 11 gold medals.

"It's a weird one, how they choose it. Sometimes it seems that Paralympians have to win lots and lots of medals to get a damehood or a knighthood.

"Kelly Holmes was made a dame when she won two gold medals, but it seems we have to get into double figures to get it. Sarah Storey should have been awarded this years ago, and I just feel that sometimes we are left out, perhaps because we are not in the public eye.

"It is a bit strange, but I am just honoured to get anything from the Queen for doing a sport I love."

On his Twitter account, Weir later emphasised that he was "extremely happy" with his CBE, and had been saying he was surprised that Storey had been overlooked in the past.

Dressage rider Lee Pearson OBE told The Independent on Sunday he was "disappointed" not to get a knighthood after winning his 10th gold medal at the Paralympics this summer.

Pearson said: "Obviously, 10 gold, one silver and one bronze just isn't enough. I'm disappointed because I do feel I've given a lot to Paralympic sport and equestrianism. I think 10 gold medals is quite an achievement."

Sophie Christiansen, who won a gold medal in the individual dressage test in London to add to her two gold medals from earlier games said she was delighted to be given an OBE.

"It's amazing. Aged 25 to be recognised in such a way, I really am honoured so I'm not complaining."

[Colly]

Isn't Lee Pearson OBE also famously a dickhead? I know the Savile scale of 'level of character required for a knighthood' is a bit tricky, but asking for your knighthood probably isn't the way to get it.

Anyway, where's mine?

[Vamp]

Brucie asked for his didn't he?

[Lineker]

It was a crime that Brucie hadn't been given one sooner.

[METALMAN]

um why? For presenting Saturday night tat?

[Summers]

No one should be a Knight. Unless they're going to chip around in armour, joust & go to war with sword in hand.

This world we live in is silly.

[Colly]

What about Zat Knight? Can he be a Knight?

[Lineker]

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and former England captain David Beckham have been overlooked in the New Year's Honours list.

The duo, who both have OBEs, had been tipped to be knighted.

Murray, 26, became the first Briton in 77 years to win the Wimbledon men's singles title in the summer, while Beckham, 38, retired from football in May after a 20-year career.

Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein has been made a CBE.

Bernstein was appointed to the role of chairman in 2010 but was forced to relinquish the post under FA rules when he reached the age of 70. He was replaced by Greg Dyke in July.

"I think this honour relates to all my 20 years in football and I am really delighted," said Bernstein.

"I had 10 years at Manchester City and it was a fantastic period to be involved at a key moment in its history, getting the club back on its feet and organising the deal for the new stadium.

"It was then enormously satisfying to be involved with Wembley through its construction phase to see it become the greatest stadium in the world."

There was speculation that Murray, who was voted Sports Personality of the Year 2013, would be honoured following his triumph in the summer, a year after he was awarded an OBE, having won Olympic gold and the US Open title.

Following his victory at Wimbledon, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I can't think of anyone who deserves one more."

People are nominated for their achievements by members of the public and whether they are given an honour - and the type of honour - is decided by a committee.

The committee's decision goes to the prime minister and then to the Queen.

Meanwhile, rumours that Beckham, who was made OBE in 2003 for services to football and played a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympics, was to be knighted, proved unfounded.

Ann Jones, who beat Billie Jean King to win the 1969 Wimbledon singles' title, is appointed a CBE after years of work in tennis administration.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has been made CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business while London Marathon race director Dave Bedford, a former 10,000m world record holder was made an OBE.

Geoff Miller, who retired as England cricket's national selector after a seven year period which saw three Ashes victories and the national side's rise to world number one, becomes an OBE.

England's most capped women's footballer Rachel Yankey has become an OBE while Katy McLean, captain of the England women's rugby union team, is appointed MBE.

Rugby league referee Stuart Cummings, who retired as RFL match officials director earlier this year, is appointed MBE.

[METALMAN]

David Beckham might as well be a knight. It's not like the honours system can be discredited anymore.