Community heroes from Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire were honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours, announced this evening.
Among them is a 72-year-old community champion from Ellesmere Port, a young retail worker from Prescot, a nurse helping the elderly, also from Prescot, a sailing coach from Huyton, and a volunteer from Skelmersdale.
Also honoured with an OBE was the boss of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Francis Ball was handed an MBE for helping those in Ellesmere Port and Wirral during the pandemic, the driving force behind the Bridge Wellness Gardens.
It started with his vision, to use horticulture to provide jobs in a deprived area for people who are long-term unemployed and instigate a community resource which could provide therapy and support for young people with mental health and learning difficulties.
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, he rapidly up-scaled the charity's commercial operation supplying fruit and vegetable boxes to those self-isolating.
Almost overnight, this increased from an average of 120 boxes delivered once a week to over 575, over two delivery days, each week.
He also established the ‘Bridge Buddy Club’, where volunteers would call vulnerable people in their local area to mitigate loneliness.
In August, he delivered 10,000 meals to 400 struggling families- 5,000 of which were ‘meal kits’ which taught families how to cook from scratch.
He told the ECHO: "I'm severely humbled as I know how many people worked so hard to achieve what we did.
"It was a big joy delivering good quality produce to people and 10,000 free meals and their reactions were just gorgeous.
"They were so made up."
Another who scooped an MBE was Jean Hughes, 34, from Prescot, a retail worker for The Co-operative Group.
The government's Cabinet Office said: "She has been absolutely key in the coordination of the Co-op's response to the Covid-19 crisis.
"Jean has shown real leadership throughout the crisis, initiating internal daily response calls between the Co-op's Support Centre and the 2,600 stores across the UK.
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"She has used this opportunity to gather feedback from colleagues, and their insight so she could prioritise the work of the support centre to help make colleagues safer.
"Jean’s actions have enabled the Co-op to support 55,000 frontline colleagues throughout the crisis...."
Jean told the ECHO: "I'm overwhelmed, I didn't expect it, to get an award like this was just, 'Wow!'
"I love my job, I absolutely love it."
Hannah Angland was handed a British Empire Medal for services to nursing during Covid-19.
From Prescot, she has been a lead nurse in the Integrated Community Ageing Team in Islington, London, for five years, a specialist in the management and assessment of frailty.
They help patients to improve their quality of life, independence and time spent at home due to reducing unplanned admission to hospital.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the community frailty team were redeployed into the ‘rapid response’ team.
They were asked to respond quickly to see the increased numbers of older people unwilling to attend hospital.
The Cabinet Office said: "At the start of the pandemic she moved her four year old daughter away to live with family outside London so she could commit to the long hours and emotional investment she knew would be needed.
"She has been an excellent role model to a group of professionals who were understandably fearful of community work during lockdown."
Hannah said: "I've recently moved from London to Prescot as a lot of my family are in Liverpool, and I'm due to start working at Whiston Hospital in November.
"It's a real team effort what we did.
"I can't wait to tell my little girl - to be recognised in this regard is just great."
Karen Clarke, who works at Asda in Ellesmere Port, received a British Empire Medal for her efforts over the last few months.
Working as an E Commerce Customer Trading Manager she was quick to take action when her store’s home delivery service was full to capacity.
However thanks to her determination 420 extra households a week received groceries at a time when they really needed them.
Roger Burnley, Asda CEO & President said: “I cannot express how proud we all are to have Karen recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
"A key worker along with thousands of others, Karen has done an amazing job looking after our customers in phenomenally challenging circumstances.
"I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to her for the way in which she has risen to the challenges of the pandemic and played a vital role in feeding the nation."
James Graves, 77, also was given a British Empire Medal for voluntary service to young people in Merseyside.
Working as the chair of Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST), he runs the charity which is dedicated to guiding, coaching and supporting educational and practical achievements for young people.
In 2014, he set up the UK's largest annual tall ships regatta ‘The Apprentice Ship Cup.'
Working with 16 businesses, four colleges, 30 schools and social services units, and three universities in the UK and Europe, the tournament sees 237 young people aged between 11- 25 years getting involved in sail training.
James, from Huyton, told the ECHO: "I feel a bit overawed, there's a lot of people who work with me.
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"My family are over the moon about it."
Margaret Highton, 70, was given a British Empire Medal for her work as director of Evermoor Hub, helping people in Skelmersdale.
The Cabinet Office said: "A truly remarkable community figure, she has been involved in organisations tackling issues such as hunger, financial inclusion, road safety and housing, and helping people living in her estate, town and West Lancashire for 25 years.
"Her dedicated voluntary work began when her granddaughter Leonie was tragically killed when she was hit by a car driven by an uninsured driver in 1994...
"...as a member of RoadPeace Northwest, she tirelessly and successfully campaigned for 13 years for legislation imposing tougher sentences on drivers who cause death while committing motoring offences other than dangerous driving.
"She started annual remembrance services for road crash victims in Liverpool which still take place on the anniversary of Princess Diana's death."
Margaret told the ECHO: "I'm really honoured, it came out of the blue.
"It's not about getting a medal, but the work we do being recognised."
Phil Garrigan, 50, the Chief Fire Officer on Merseyside, won an OBE for services to fire and rescue during Covid-19.
His work led to unprecedented national agreements, which saw firefighters undertake activities such as emergency ambulance driving, movement of the deceased and deliveries of prescriptions and PPE to vulnerable people.
Mr Garrigan told the ECHO: "I'm pleased and humbled, this is more a reflection of the work of our staff and I'm privileged to work with such passionate people.
"An incredible amount of work has gone on which sometimes goes unnoticed."
The Chief Executive for the Office for Nuclear Regulation, Adriènne Kelbie, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the nuclear industry and to diversity and inclusion.
Mark McAllister, chair of the ONR Board, said: "Adriènne is an inspirational and transformational leader and I am delighted that her contributions have been recognised by Her Majesty in this way, reflecting her personal drive and commitment to make a tangible difference."
Ms Kelbie said: "This honour is a tribute to the ONR team and all others who work tirelessly to create a more inclusive world and safe nuclear sector, as well as those on the long and sometimes arduous journey of leadership and self-development.
"...to be appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) is an accolade for which I am enormously grateful; it strengthens my commitment to continue to inspire others to be their biggest, best, boldest selves – and change our world for the better.”
This year's list was postponed from June in order to include people, such as medical workers, fundraisers and volunteers, who have been instrumental in the Covid-19 effort.
