New Year Honours for Baker, Hansen, Moyes and Johnson-Thompson along with many other Merseyside figures

A Dr Who star, Liverpool and Everton greats, a former Merseyside Police chief and an Olympic hero are among those to receive honours from King Charles

Katarina Johnson-Thompson(Image: PA)

A much-loved Doctor Who actor, a former Merseyside Police boss, Liverpool and Everton legends and an Olympic hero are among the Merseyside figures being named in the King’s New Year Honours List.

The annual list is put together following recommendations from the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public. Those receiving honours are noted for their contribution to society or dedicated public service.

This year there are a host of people set to receive honours who have strong links to Merseyside. They include legendary Dr Who actor Tom Baker, who was born in Vauxhall. He was the fourth and longest-serving incarnation of the time-travelling character, assuming the role from 1974 to 1981. He receives an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to television.

Former Merseyside Police chief constable Andy Cooke, who now holds the role of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services receives a knighthood from King Charles, for services to policing and public service.

Sir Andy said he was ‘deeply humbled’ to receive the honour and said making communities safer has been his ‘life’s work.’ Sir Andy joined Merseyside Police in 1985 and became the first commander of the Matrix team, which tackled gun crime and violence. In 2008, he became assistant chief constable at Lancashire Constabulary, before returning to Merseyside in 2012 as deputy chief constable.

Former Merseyside Police Chief Constable Andy Cooke (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

He became chief constable of Merseyside in 2016, overseeing the force’s largest-ever reorganisation. Nationally, he has led efforts to combat serious organised crime and he played a key role in creating the UK’s first nationwide witness protection service. He now leads the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which inspects and reports on police and fire services in England and Wales.

Sir Andy said: “Making communities safer has been my life’s work, and this recognition is a testament to the incredible people I’ve been lucky enough to work with throughout my career. I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported me throughout my career and my family, who have always stood by my side. This honour belongs as much to them as it does to me.”

Also receiving an honour is Woolton-born athletics star Katarina Johnson-Thompson. A double world champion in the heptathlon, she gripped the nation in 2024, securing her first Olympic medal with a silver in the same event in Paris. She receives an MBE in the King’s honours.

Liverpool FC legend Alan Hansen has also been awarded an MBE, for services to Association Football and Broadcasting. The honour brings a positive end to a difficult year for the former Scotland international, who had a health scare in the summer. Having recovered and been released from hospital, the ex-Reds captain received a hero’s welcome on his return to watch Partick Thistle, the team where he started his illustrious career.

Representing the Blue half of Merseyside is former Everton manager David Moyes, who managed the Toffees for a successful period between 2002 and 2013 before going on to manage other clubs including Manchester United and West Ham United. The Scot has been awarded an OBE for services to Association Football.

Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson(Image: PA)

Also named in the honours list is Lynne Fairclough, a community volunteer for Merseyside Police, who receives the British Empire Medal for services to policing and to the community in Merseyside.

Lynne, from Maghull, has dedicated her life to reducing crime and building stronger communities. She has been an active member of Neighbourhood Watch for nearly 40 years and is now a pivotal contact and co-ordinator for 1206 Homewatch schemes across our region.

Paying tribute to Lynne, Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy said: “Lynne plays a crucial role in bringing together and working in partnership with Our Watch, Merseyside Police, residents, businesses, and scheme leaders.

“She is committed to further expanding Homewatch and is always on hand to help with the setting up and establishment of new schemes to help drive down crime and victimisation for an even greater range of communities. Lynne started out on her Homewatch journey when she was in her mid 20s and it is blatantly obvious that she is an extremely passionate and dedicated person who really cares about people and about what she does to help the community.”

Also on the policing front, there is a King’s Police Medal (KPM) for former Merseyside Police detective chief superintendent Mark Baker, who was the senior investigating officer on the investigation into the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel which resulted in the successful conviction of Thomas Cashman.

The full list of people with links to Merseyside named in the New Year Honours is below:

Thomas Stewart Baker. Actor and Writer. For services to Television. (Maidstone, Kent) MBE

Andrew Cooke QPM DL. HM Chief Inspector, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. For services to Policing and to Public Service. (Liverpool, Merseyside) KNIGHTHOOD

Professor Andrew Levers. Executive Director and Founder, Institute of Digital Engineering and Autonomous Systems, University of Liverpool. For services to Industry and to the Economy. (Wirral, Merseyside) OBE

Terence Crolley. Chair of Trustee Board, The Whitechapel Centre. For services to Tackling Homelessness in Merseyside. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Charles James Hubbert. Foster Carer, Barnardo’s, Liverpool, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Dianne Hubbert. Foster Carer, Barnardo’s, Liverpool, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Katarina Johnson-Thompson. For services to Athletics. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Melanie Lewis. Lately Chief Executive, Shakespeare North Playhouse. For services to Theatre. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen (Image: Getty)

Adam McCamley. Senior Analyst, Liverpool City Council. For services to Social Care Data. (Liverpool, Merseyside) MBE

Kathryn Margaret Thomson. Lately Chief Executive, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS. (Wirral, Merseyside) MBE

Rachel Elizabeth Davies. Coach and Volunteer, Altrincham Football Club. For services to Sport. (Liverpool, Merseyside) BEM

Lynne Fairclough. Community Volunteer, Merseyside Police. For services to Policing and to the community in Merseyside. (Liverpool, Merseyside) BEM

John Philip Wilson. Chief Executive Officer, Liverpool Seafarers Centre. For services to Seafarers’ Welfare. (Liverpool, Merseyside) BEM

Dr David Michael Gott. Principal Toxicologist, Food Standards Agency. For services to Food Safety. (Wirral, Merseyside) OBE

Professor Clare Elizabeth Wilkinson. Emeritus Professor of General Practice, North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University. For services to Primary Care Research, Teaching and Practice. (Wirral, Merseyside) MBE

Julie Robinson. Foster Carer, Wirral County Council, Wirral, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care. (Prenton, Merseyside) MBE

Ruth Mary Agnew. Chief Governance and Central Support Officer, Co-Op Academies Trust. For services to Education. (Warrington, Cheshire) MBE

Former Everton manager David Moyes(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Lee Rawlinson. Lately Director, Environment Agency. For services to the Environment. (Widnes, Cheshire) MBE

Alan David Hansen. Lately Broadcaster. For services to Association Football and to Broadcasting. (Southport, Merseyside) MBE