LONDON – Pop star Annie Lennox said yesterday she was “genuinely honoured” to receive an OBE for her work fighting Aids and poverty in Africa despite being “somewhat of a renegade”.
The former Eurythmics singer headed a host of entertainment and sport stars recognised in Britain’s new year’s honours list, including Poirot actor David Suchet and Ryder Cup-winning golfer Graeme McDowell.
Honours also went to football referee Howard Webb and veteran actress Sheila Hancock.
Anne Begg (55), who became the first full-time wheelchair-user elected to parliament when she was returned as Labour MP for Aberdeen South in 1997, was made a dame for services to disabled people and equal opportunities.
Peter Bottomley (66), the Conservative MP for Worthing West in West Sussex, who was first elected in 1975 and served as a junior minister under Margaret Thatcher, is knighted for public service.
Aberdeen-born Lennox, who turned 56 on Christmas Day, has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide with the Eurythmics and as a solo star.
Her hit songs include Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), No More "I Love Yous"and Why. She has won a string of awards including Grammys, Brits, Ivor Novellos and an Oscar. She now divides her time between her music and campaigning on behalf of Aids and HIV victims and poverty-stricken women and children in the developing world.
Suchet (64), who received a CBE for services to drama, has played a huge variety of roles on stage and screen during an acting career spanning more than 40 years.
He is best known for playing Agatha Christie’s debonair Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in the long-running ITV series.
Suchet, whose brother is broadcaster John Suchet, has played the role since 1989.
Hancock (77) received a CBE after a long career ranging from Royal Shakespeare Company plays and TV sitcoms to a Carry On films and the recent West End adaptation of Sister Act.
A committed Quaker, she has also written a moving book about her life with her late husband, Inspector Morse actor John Thaw.
There was an OBE for rugby star Mike Catt (39) who retired from playing in May having won 75 England caps, including the 2003 and 2007 World Cup finals, and toured with the British and Irish Lions.
Lady Antonia Fraser (78) from London, widow of playwright Harold Pinter and best-selling author of biographies of Marie Antoinette and Mary Queen of Scots, was made a dame for services to literature.
A CBE went to Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen (41) from London, who directed the 2008 film Hunger about the 1981 hunger strike by republican prisoners.
In the film world, OBEs went to costume designer Sandy Powell (50) who has won Oscars for her work on Shakespeare In Love, The Aviator and The Young Victoria; Andrea Arnold (49) director of Fish Tank, and Manchester-born Burt Kwouk (80) best known as martial arts expert Cato in the Pink Panthermovies.
Award-winning actress Harriet Walter (60) who has appeared in scores of plays, TV dramas and films over her distinguished career, was made a dame.
There was an OBE for songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson (61) a former member of Fairport Convention.
Former ITN foreign correspondent Sandy Gall (83) from Penshurst, Kent, said he was “very honoured” to be made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the diplomatic and overseas list for his decades of charity work supporting disabled Afghans.