Public sector workers on Covid and prisons lauded in Queen’s birthday honours

A prison officer behind a widely copied scheme to support women in custody and a nurse at the forefront of developing one of the NHS Nightingale hospitals are among public sector workers recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Ian Noons, 59, a prison officer, receives an MBE for helping marginalised people after becoming aware that many women in custody did not have enough suitable clothing. In partnership with the Katharine House hospice, he set up the first charity shop in a prison in a model that been mirrored across England.

His work also benefited transgender prisoners in the West Midlands through the supply of items of clothing.

Tamsin Harris, 43, a teacher who has worked in Cornwall for 21 years, receives a British Empire media (BEM) after taking up a leadership role at her school last year when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the head and deputy to shield.

She took on extra responsibilities including organising cover for vulnerable children and those of key workers, and supported other members of the community outside school. She also continues to produce a local newsletter.

Jacqueline Bird, 58, the regional director of nursing for NHS England in the north-west, receives an MBE for her long-term service and her work during the pandemic when she developed a programme to staff the region’s Nightingale hospital.

She has advocated for and raised awareness of the experiences and concerns of nursing staff from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Others honoured with MBEs include Sarah Caul, 30, who has led the mortality analysis team at the Office for National Statistics during the pandemic, and Amanda Mansfield, 53, who became the first consultant midwife in the London ambulance service in 2015 and whose work is regarded as having made a huge impact on the safety of women and babies.