King's Birthday Honours 2026: Full list of Leeds and Wakefield community champions recognised this year

Leading local figures in the worlds of education, policing, health, the arts and more have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list 2026 - with medals for their contribution to their communities and fields.

While Kevin Sinfield finally receiving a knighthood has taken many of the headlines, there’s also recognition for another local figure who has been a major influence on rugby league.

There’s also recognition for a stalwart of Emmerdale, a “tireless champion of general practice” and a police officer who “exemplifies empathy, cultural sensitivity and the very best of operational community engagement”.

Here is the full list of recipients from Leeds and Wakefield.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Dr Richard Mark Vautrey from Leeds has been recognised for his services to general practice.

A “tireless champion of general practice”, Dr Vautrey was president of Royal College of General Practitioners until 2021 and is a partner at Meanwood Group Practice, where he has worked since 1994.

Neil Fox MBE from Wakefield has been recognised for services to rugby league and to the community in West Yorkshire.

Fox is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game and holds Rugby League’s all-time career points record with 6,220 during his career.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Linda Harrison-Simcock, from Keighley, has been recognised for her services to foster care and to vulnerable children, having worked in children’s services at Leeds City Council.

Rachel Anne Hollis, who lives in Ripon, has been recognised for her services to nursing. Ms Hollis spent more than thirty years working in paediatric oncology and haematology in Leeds, and has been involved in developing services for children and young people with cancer in the UK at the local and national level. She was the Honorary Nurse Advisor for Children's Cancer Care at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and has also been made a Fellow of the UK Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and chair of the Professional Nursing Committee.

His Honour Judge Jonathan Lee Rose, from Leeds, is the Resident Judge at Bradford Crown Court and Honorary Recorder of Bradford. He has been recognised for services to the administration of justice and to the young people of Bradford.

Gary Stott, has been recognised for his services to the circular economy and to building communities. He is the executive chair of the award winning social enterprise Community Shop and was previously the chief executive of St George’s Crypt.

Mr Stott has worked on several government programmes seeking to improve homelessness outcomes for people and is Chair, Non-Executive Director and Trustee of several charities.

He said: “It’s an absolute privilege to work within a sector and with people so totally committed to delivering positive change for people, communities and the environment. Over the last 20 years I have worked with some brilliant people and together we have created long-lasting and sustainable solutions by empowering people to develop their own capabilities and deliver positive futures for themselves and their communities.

“I am incredibly humbled to receive this honour from His Majesty the King.”

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Russell John Manning, who was the chair of the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, has been recognised for his services to the Jewish community and to charity.

Lisa Riley , who has long been known for playing Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, has been recognised for her services to drama and charity.

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Helen Mary Mack DL, from Wakefield, the former director of income generation at Wakefield Hospice, has been recognised for services to hospice care.

Police Constable Dharmesh Mistry, has been recognised for services to policing and to the communities of Bradford and Leeds.

PC Mistry, who has over 20 years’ service, is renowned for improving the way the Force engages with local people. His work has not only massively improved relations between the police and the Hindu community, but other communities across Leeds and Bradford. As well as being a police officer, Dharmesh spends his spare time volunteering; supporting vulnerable people, local food banks and local families who are impacted by dementia.

PC Dharmesh Mistry BEM said: “It's fitting that this BEM has come 10 years from when I started my community engagement work. This is a moment of profound joy, but also deep spiritual reflection.

“In Hinduism, we believe that our actions, our karma, shape not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. My journey in policing has always been rooted in this belief. Every call I attended, every victim I supported, every community I stood beside was an expression of my karma yoga, the path of selfless action.

“I carry this honour forward with renewed purpose and an open heart.”

Mary Mitchell, from Leeds, is the national returns progression officer at the Home Office. She has been recognised for services to diversity and inclusion.