Leader congratulates locals named in New Year Honours list

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, has congratulated three individuals linked to the borough who have been named in the New Year’s Honours list.

Councillor Riley said:

It’s always so pleasing to see local people recognised in the New Year’s Honours list. This year the King has recognised people from the worlds of education and politics to arts and culture.

Dr Fazal Dad, Principal and Chief Executive of Blackburn College, has been awarded a CBE for services to further education.

Councillor Riley commented:

Since taking up his role at Blackburn College in January 2019, it’s fair to say that Fazal Dad has made significant changes on his determined path to wide scale improvements. In just three years, he helped the college progress from an Ofsted rating of ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’.

Under his leadership, the college has also launched one of a small number of hybrid and electric automotive training facilities in the country, and it has made links with the National Cyber Security Centre through its cyber security training centre, bringing exciting opportunities for our young people to develop the skills they need for modern careers.

 Blackburn-born Christine Cort has been awarded an OBE for services to the arts and culture.

Councillor Riley commented:

A champion for arts and culture as a catalyst for growth, Christine has never forgotten her hometown and is a great supporter of Blackburn’s National Festival of Making and other cultural activities in the town.

More recently, Christine helped to bring Escapades pop-up tavern to Blackburn town centre, with her close friend chef Paul Heathcote. We were delighted to have the chance to work with her on this – Escapades proved to be a popular festive destination for people enjoying a night out in Blackburn in the run-up to Christmas.

Former councillor and MP for Blackburn Kate Hollern has been awarded a CBE for parliamentary, political and public service.

Councillor Riley commented:

And, of course, I am delighted to hear that my close friend and the former MP Kate Hollern has been awarded a CBE for Parliamentary and political services. Kate is an adopted Blackburnian after moving here from Scotland when she was young. She was the Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2015, during which time the Council was selected as the LGA’s Council of the Year. Kate was then Blackburn’s MP from 2015 to 2024 and, in all those roles, Kate simply tried to do her best in the interests of the residents of the town.