Alan Bates’ knighthood underscores his pivotal role in exposing a significant miscarriage of justice. Detailed below are the key points surrounding the honours and other notable recipients.
- Bates founded the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance and revealed wrongful convictions caused by Horizon software.
- Over 700 post office branch managers were falsely accused between 1999 and 2015.
- Notable other honourees include Tracey Emin, Armando Iannucci, and Gordon Brown.
- Bates hopes his knighthood will help secure final justice for the sub-postmasters.
Alan Bates’ recognition comes as a result of his critical role in unveiling one of Britain’s most severe miscarriages of justice. As the founder of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance, Bates relentlessly exposed the wrongful convictions of over 700 post office branch managers between 1999 and 2015, attributed to faults in the Horizon accounting software.
Accepting the honour on behalf of the affected sub-postmasters, Bates highlighted the ‘horrendous things that had happened to them’. Bates’ campaign, which culminated in the mass quashing of convictions, was notably depicted in the ITV drama ‘Mr Bates vs the Post Office’. Reflecting on his knighthood, Bates expressed hope that it would aid in securing final justice for the sub-postmasters affected.
In addition to Bates, the King’s Birthday Honours list included several other notable figures. Acclaimed artist Tracey Emin, celebrated actor Imelda Staunton, and political satirist Armando Iannucci were among those recognised, with Emin and Staunton receiving damehoods and Iannucci awarded a CBE for his contributions to British television and film.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was honoured as a Companion of Honour for his public service, focusing on the vital contributions of unsung community heroes. Other distinguished recipients included Dame Jenny Abramsky, the former BBC head of audio and music; retired judge Terence Etherton, knighted for his services to LGBT veterans; and historian Dr Niall Ferguson, recognised for his contributions to public history.
The honours also extended to figures in sports and entertainment, with CBEs awarded to former cyclist Chris Boardman and ex-footballer Graeme Souness, OBEs to golfer Sandy Lyle and football pundit Ally McCoist, and an MBE to Olympian Anita Neil. Fashion designer Anya Hindmarch and interior designer Lulu Lytle were also recognised, with Hindmarch made a dame and Lytle receiving an OBE. The list further included awards for actor Alex Jennings, ‘Coronation Street’ star Shobna Gulati, and musician Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran.
The comprehensive recognition underlined the diverse contributions to British society, including those of the medical team and financial advisors to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Of the 1,077 honourees, 509 were women, and 10% came from minority ethnic backgrounds, with women constituting 40% of recipients at CBE level and above.
This year’s King’s Birthday Honours list underscores the broad spectrum of contributions recognised across various sectors, highlighting the enduring impact of individuals like Alan Bates.
