Leading figures in the North East business community have been recognised in the King鈥檚 Birthday Honours List.
Jen Hartley, director of Invest Newcastle at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, has received an MBE for services to business and trade. The honour comes after Ms Hartley attracted a significant amount of inward investment to Newcastle and the wider North East.
She said: 鈥淚鈥檓 blown away to receive such a recognition for a job that I love and feel so passionately about. My role allows me to represent, what I consider to be, the best city and region there is and one that I鈥檓 proud to call home. Over the years I鈥檝e been lucky enough to work with the most incredible teams and partners, all of which deserve this award as much as I do.鈥
There was also an MBE for Harry Wilson, chair of South Shields firm 海角视频 Docks.
He said: 鈥淚鈥檇 heard whispers a while ago but nothing seemed to happen so I assumed nothing would and it came as a complete surprise when the letter from the Palace dropped through the door.
鈥淚 had thought at 82 I might be past my sell-by date but it鈥檚 a wonderful thing to receive! It鈥檚 a great honour to be given and I look forward to collecting it, although I don鈥檛 know yet when that will be.鈥
There was an OBE for Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia, who has been instrumental in developments at the Nissan plant and the Crown Works studio that will bring thousands of jobs to Wearside.
A former leader at North Tyneside Council, he said: 鈥淎s a 16-year-old school leaver, I could never have dreamt how 40 years later I would be honoured in this way.
鈥淚 do genuinely believe that this is a wider tribute to the many people who have helped me, shaped me and guided me over the years, and especially those I have been lucky enough to work with. I have always felt very proud of our region, always been driven by a sense of service to those around me, and always wanted to help ensure that everybody gets more opportunities and that together we can all help make the North East an even better place to live and work in.鈥
Martin Lawlor, chief executive at the Port of Blyth, is also awarded an OBE for services to ports, maritime and the offshore energy industry, while the same honour also goes to David Parks, founder and managing director of The Skill Mill. Michael Dickson, chairman of South Shields butchery firm Dicksons, receives an MBE for services to the food industry and the community.
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community
for all the latest news direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you鈥檙e curious, you can read our .
