Lioness and scientist make New Year Honours list

An England footballer,a nuclear scientist, a cinema proprietor and special constable are among those from Cumbria named in the New Years Honours list.

Lioness Georgia Stanway, 26, from Barrow, has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) along with Claire Gallery-Strong, 54, Charles Morris, 75, from Lindale, Grange over Sands.

Ms Gallery-Strong, a founding member of Women in Nuclear which aims to tackle the industry's gender balance, said she was "absolutely overwhelmed".

Cinema proprietor Mr Morris said it was a "great honour" to become a MBE for his services to cinema over more than 32 years.

The managing director of Northern Morris Associated Cinemas said he had become "hooked" on cinema after seeing his first film on the big screen at the age of seven.

Mr Morris said: "I spent the best years of my youth in the projection room of that local cinema and I gradually learned to be able to operate the projectors properly."

Fundraiser Gary McKee, from Cleator Moor, was also appointed MBE after raising £2m for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He said he "was lost for words" and "proud" after receiving a letter informing him of his achievement.

Earlier this year, he set himself the challenge of running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise money for his local hospice.

He said it was an "incredible feeling" receiving the same award as some of those he "looked up to".

After his father died with cancer in 2003, Mr McKee became a fundraiser for the charity, cycling, climbing and running to raise the funds.

"It's about inspiring other people," he said.

Nina Bale, 92, who volunteers at Manna House in Kendal and founded Friends of Manna House to raise money for the charity, received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to homelessness in Kendal.

When she received news of her award she said she thought it was a scam.

Ms Bale said she "didn't believe it" but it was "amazing".

Susan Holliday, a volunteer special constable at Cumbria Police, has also received a BEM for her services over the past 40 years.

Mrs Holliday said her career, which began in 1987 at Carlisle's former Rickergate station, had been full of "incredible experiences".

"The reason I joined as a special constable back in 1987 was to make a positive difference to people in Cumbria," she said.

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