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16
Jun 2023
Knighthood among King's honours for Harrogate district residents
A Harrogate man has been knighted in the King's Birthday Honours List.
Dr Richard John Mantle, general director of Leeds-based Opera North, has been recognised for his services to opera.
He was made an OBE 10 years ago in the late Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to music, and has served as a deputy lord lieutenant in West Yorkshire since 2012.
Dr Mantle sits on the board of the National Opera Studio, as well as being a member of the advisory council of the music department of York University, a fellow of Leeds College of Music and a fellow of the Royal College of Arts.
He announced last year that he intends to retire from his role with Opera North at the end of 2023, after being involved with it since 1994.
At the time, Dr Mantle – now Sir Richard Mantle – said:
Opera North's chair of trustees Paul Lee said:
Read more:
- Five Harrogate district recipients on King's first honours list
- Petition launched to honour all England Lionesses — including Harrogate's Rachel Daly
Also on the first birthday honours list of King Charles III is Ripon man Dr Peter Liddle, who is made an OBE for services to heritage and public understanding of the world wars.
A military historian, Dr Liddle founded the University of Leeds's Liddle Collection, an archive of first-hand accounts of people who lived through either of the world wars.
He is also patron of the Halifax Great War Heritage Society and life president of the Second World War Experience Centre.
Harrogate resident Susan Soroczan is also made an OBE for public service in her role as group director at the Department for Work and Pensions.
The leader of Northern Star Academies Trust, which includes Harrogate High School, has been made an OBE for services to education.
Jennifer Spencer-Plews is chief executive of the trust, which also includes Hookstone Chase, New Park, Starbeck and Willow Tree primary schools in Harrogate among its members.
Ripon Farm Services managing director Geoff Brown, pictured above, is made an MBE for services to the rural economy in the list, published this evening.
There is also one recipient of the British Empire Medal from the Harrogate district.
Sgt Paul Cording of North Yorkshire Police has been recognised for his service as a police officer as well as his charity work.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, he described the recognition as "bonkers", as well as "humbling".
See the Stray Ferret tomorrow morning for a full interview with Sgt Cording.
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