Liverpool FC legend and Southport resident Alan Hansen has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.
The elegant defender, who won eight League titles and three European Cups with Liverpool as well as 26 caps for Scotland, was recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.
Keen golfer Alan has lived in Southport for many years with his wife Janet. The couple have two children.
After his distinguished playing career, he became a respected TV pundit on Match Of The Day from 1992 to 2014.
The Scottish legend fell seriously ill over the summer and had to be admitted to hospital for treatment, but was discharged two weeks’ later.
He was among the Liverpool FC team who were on the pitch in April 1989 as the Hillsborough disaster unfolded around them.
He subsequently attended 12 funerals and visited injured supporters in hospital.
In his autobiography, he described the tragedy as “the blackest period of my life”.
He wrote: “The number of broken hearts was incalculable. The immediate aftermath, when Kenny Dalglish and the players attended the funerals and tried to show support for the grieving families, took more out of me emotionally than any other experience I have gone through.”
On Match of the Day in April 2009, Alan spoke emotionally about the tragedy.
He said: “It was a horrific time, traumatic for everybody. It must never be forgotten.”
Former Sefton Council Heritage-at-Risk Officer Daniel Kevin Longman JP was also honoured.
Daniel is a Magistrate and Deputy Chair, Liverpool Bench, Diversity and Community Relations Magistrate, Trustee, the Magistrates’ Association, and Deputy of Merseyside and Cheshire Advisory Committee.
He was recognised for services to the Administration of Justice.
HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2025 recognises unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK.
More than 1,200 recipients receive honours this year across all sectors, with particular commendation to role models in sport, healthcare, academia and voluntary service.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:
“Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities.
They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does.
“The New Year Honours List celebrates more of these unsung heroes, and I thank them for their incredible contribution.”
Among those being honoured today is former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate, who receives a Knighthood for services to Association Football. Beyond the pitch, Southgate has been actively involved in charitable work including supporting the Prince’s Trust, a youth charity that helps young people get into education, training, and employment.
The List awards a Companion of Honour, of which there are only 65 recipients at any time, to author and screenwriter Sir Kazuo Ishiguro; and a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, and a Knight Grand Cross for Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz lately Chair of Cancer Research.
Damehoods are being awarded to Professor Alison Fuller for her work in Higher Education and Ruth Cairnie, Chair of Babcock International. Notable CBE recipients include Alan Titchmarsh, and actors Sarah Lancashire and Carey Mulligan.
The oldest recipient, World War Two Mosquito pilot Colin Bell, is 103 years old and receives a BEM for his charitable fundraising and public speaking about WWII Bomber Command.
The List also features two further centenarians: George Kelly aged 101, who receives an MBE for services to the Royal British Legion and to Royal Air Force Veterans. George had a distinguished career as an RAF navigator and has given over 40 years of selfless voluntary service to the RBL. And Roy Gibson, aged 100, was awarded a BEM for services to space. Roy has had an immeasurable impact on UK and European space policy over his 70-year career as a leader for multiple international space organisations.
The Government is committed to ensuring that honours are awarded to outstanding people from across the whole of the UK and the system reflects the best of society. The List ensures that people from underrepresented communities and a wide variety of types of work are rewarded, to celebrate the fantastic contribution of people throughout the country.
Both of this year’s youngest recipients are aged 18 years old. Mikalya Beames, aged 18, has been awarded a BEM for her charitable fundraising for children with cancer in Oxfordshire. After being diagnosed with brain cancer at 4 years old, she founded her namesake charity, Team Mikayla in 2014, has supported hundreds of children who are fighting cancer, and distributes thousands of gifts at Christmas and Easter. She has also helped to raise over £300,000 since 2014. Paralympian William Ellard, aged 18, receives an MBE after winning three medals including gold at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.
Wendy Ansell, from Swansea, is a specialist midwife who has received an MBE for services to survivors of harmful practices and to women seeking sanctuary for her work supporting survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) and vulnerable women. She has developed bespoke training programmes for healthcare professionals to enhance their understanding of the needs of women who have undergone FGM or are seeking asylum.
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.
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