07 January 2005
Local government emerged as a strong winner from the New Year's honours list.
There was a knighthood for Sheffield City Council chief executive Bob Kerslake in recognition of his services to local government. Kerslake's fellow CIPFA member and chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council, James Hehir, was rewarded with an OBE.
Sandy Blair, former director of the Welsh Local Government Association, received a CBE, as did Max Caller, chief executive of the London Borough of Hackney.
Downing Street was at pains to point out that the list rewards people who work in priority areas. One in ten honours went to people working in education, and a similar number to those in health and social care.
A difficult year for Whitehall did not stop top mandarins from receiving their gongs. Despite December's trouble at the Home Office, there was a knighthood for permanent secretary John Gieve, and another for his counterpart at the Department for Education and Skills, David Normington.
Doug Smith, who resigned from the troubled Child Support Agency last year, was nevertheless made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. A Downing Street spokeswoman said the award was in recognition of a 'long and distinguished career as a public servant'.
Among other Whitehall luminaries to be honoured was Wendy Thomson, head of the Prime Minister's Office of Public Services Reform, who was made a CBE.
There were knighthoods for former Ofsted chief Mike Tomlinson, who chaired the review into the future of 14-19 education, and banker Derek Wanless, who authored reports on the future of the health service.
CBI director general Digby Jones was also knighted.
PFjan2005
