A KENDAL man is set to receive a BEM for his services to public libraries.

Mark McCree, 45, is one of a number of people across south Cumbria to have been named in the New Year Honours list.

Mr McCree, currently head of libraries at Blackpool Council, served as national libraries manager for the Royal National Institute for the Blind between 2014 and 2017, working closely with Libraries Connected (then the Society of Chief Librarians) to help improve services for blind and partially sighted people.

Among his earlier achievements was his work to implement ‘Lincs to the Past’, a project which involved the online collation of archive material from across Lincolnshire.

Mr McCree said his first reaction upon receiving a letter from the Cabinet Office was surprise, adding he had to double check it was genuine.

“It’s nice that someone feels that I warrant this recognition, so if nothing else, that’s really nice to know,” he said.

Set to receive an OBE - for her services to young people and the community - is Elizabeth Cornford, 62, from Cartmel, who has worked with the charity ‘Young Cumbria’ for 15 years, encouraging children to gain important life skills through various youth programmes. She has helped more than 2,000 young people to gain a qualification outside of the education system.

“It is amazing. I am overwhelmed that people actually thought of me for this, I am just doing my job really,” she said.

Paul Foster, the outgoing boss of Sellafield Ltd, which runs the Sellafield nuclear site, near Seascale, is to receive a CBE for services to business. The recognition comes on the back of a long career in the nuclear and steel industries.

Two people being recognised for services to the NHS are Kevin Parkinson and Sascha Wells-Munro. Mr Parkinson, formerly chief finance officer and director of governance at the Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, is to receive an MBE, while Mrs Wells-Munro, a maternity improvement adviser at NHS England and NHS Improvement, will be awarded an OBE.

Ulverston’s John Butler, who served as chair of governors at Furness College, Barrow, for almost a decade before stepping down in January, will be made an MBE for services to further education. John Hudson, managing director of BAE Systems Maritime, will receive a CBE for services to the Royal Navy and naval shipbuilding and design.

Those in south Cumbria join star names such as Olivia Newton-John, known for her role in ‘Grease’, and England cricketer Ben Stokes, who grew up in Cumbria and played youth cricket in the county.