16 Indians receives UK honours

London, Dec 30 (UNI) Britain's New Year's Honours List, released today, has 16 people of Indian origin among a total of 950 recipients.

Although none of them received knighthood, the highest honour, a CBE, this year was accorded to Ramniklal Solanki, the founder of Britain's largest Asian publishing house, the Asian Media and Marketing Group, for his contribution to race relations, diversity, the British Asian community and his pioneering work in publishing.

In 1998, Mr Solanki had received an OBE. He is the only one of the Indian origin to receive a CBE this year. There are 15 others who have been given OBEs and MBEs.

Most of the 16 have been honoured for their contribution to improving community relations or in recognition of work in public utility services.

The Cabinet Office said 46 per cent of those on the New Year list had been nominated or supported by members of the public.

''The Queen would be especially happy with her grand-daughter Zara Phillips getting an MBE in recognition of her winning the equestrian gold medal,'' the office added.

Among the other famous names in the list is singer Rod Stewart, who is conferred the CBE for services to music, while vacuum cleaner entrepreneur James Dyson and MI6 chief John Scarlett were awarded knighthood and virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie was honoured with damehood.

Knighthoods have also been given to blind jazz pianist George Shearing, biographer Michael Holroyd and Rangers football club chairman David Murray, while Daily Mail reporter Ann Leslie was made a dame.

Hugh Laurie (OBE) and Penelope Keith (CBE) join other stars of the stage and screen on the list. Boxer Ricky Hatton and former BBC tennis commentator John Barrett are awarded MBEs, as is Liverpool and England footballer Steven Gerrard.

Among the less well-known people conferred with an MBE are John Grey, 80, a shoeshiner for Virgin Atlantic airline customers at Heathrow, former East Lothian milkman George Beal and Norfolk teaching assistant Susan Wade, who all become MBEs.

Virgin Atlantic's chief executive, Steve Ridgway, who has been conferred with a CBE for services to civil aviation, said, ''Of the two of us, I suspect John has been more influential in helping to look after our passengers.'' It was also announced that all past and future recipients would now be able to apply for a new buttonhole badge. There are said to be around 120,000 people currently eligible to wear the emblem.

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