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Formula 1 world
champion Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
The Briton, 35, sealed
a seventh drivers’ title at the Turkish Grand Prix in November – equalling
Michael Schumacher’s championships record.
Rugby league
legend Rob Burrow is made an MBE for services to rugby and his
awareness campaign since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
British Billie Jean
King Cup captain Anne Keothavong also becomes an MBE.
The former British
number one, 37, represented Great Britain in the event – previously known as
the Fed Cup – before becoming captain in 2016.
Others made an MBE
include former Tottenham and Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves and
ex-Wolves midfielder Ron Flowers, both World Cup winners with
England in 1966.
Greaves, who later became a popular television personality, suffered a severe stroke in 2015 and his son Danny said of the MBE: “We are very, very proud of Dad. Always have been, always will be.
“At almost 81, to
receive an honour from Her Majesty the Queen is just something very, very
special.”
Following rugby union side Exeter Chiefs’ domestic and European titles last season, director of rugby Rob Baxter is made an OBE while captain Joe Simmonds becomes an MBE.
“I couldn’t quite
work out if it was real or whether it was spam or someone having bit of a
prank,” Baxter said of the moment he received the news.
“It turned up by
email and not in an official letter. You download it, read it and check who it
has been emailed from with a Google search.
“I was sat there
with my wife, both of us in a slightly bemused state. My family are
delighted.”
Former England
captain Gillian Coultard has been appointed an MBE for
services to football, along with former Swansea City and Wales forward Alan
Curtis.
Chairman of the
Racecourse Association Maggie Carver has been made a CBE, as
has former jockey Bob Champion and chief executive and
secretary of the R&A Peter Dawson.
Promoter Barry
Hearn becomes an OBE for services to sport, having been involved in
boxing, snooker and darts among other sports.
“It has been a
great joy to be involved in such a wide range of sports for over 40
years,” said Hearn.
“To be recognised
for that work is an honour.”
Former Rugby Football
League chairman, ex-Football Association chief executive and former BBC head of
sport Brian Barwick, now chairman of football’s National League,
receives an OBE.
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