Celebs and sports stars pick up honours

Celebrities, sports stars and the architect of London's Millennium Dome picked up awards in the Queen's birthday honours list, published on Saturday.

Household names including comedian Victoria Wood, TV personality Des O'Connor and 81-year-old actress June Brown, who plays Dot Cotton in the soap Eastenders, all received honours alongside local heroes and community champions.

TV show host Paul O'Grady, creator of the comic drag character Lily Savage, was elevated to Member of the British Empire (CBE).

Lord Richard Rogers, who designed the dome at Greenwich, Paris' Pompidou Centre, Lloyds of London and the Welsh National Assembly received a Companion of Honour (CH), the highest award.

In all, 959 honours were handed out, 41 percent to women, in the fields of education, health, media and the arts, sport and community voluntary and local services.

Clara Furse, the first woman head of the London Stock Exchange, became a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), for her success in defending the exchange against a string of unwanted approaches, the Cabinet Office said in a statement.

Lynda La Plante, author and TV script writer was given a CBE, while Doctor Who screenwriter Stephen Davies became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Journalist and novelist Eve Pollard was awarded an OBE for promoting women in journalism.

In the world of sports, there were awards for the recently retired rugby international Lawrence Dallaglio, for David Healey, leading goal scorer for the Northern Ireland football team and for boxing champion Joe Calzaghe.