Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) recipients comprise a diverse group, from the world-famous to the British citizen performing ordinary work. The OBE is one of Britain's best-known awards, bestowed on people who've made exceptional contributions in their field. They may be actors or musicians, athletes or public sector workers, scientists or business leaders. This article helps readers understand what this title represents and describes the best ways to find the list of OBE recipients.
What to Know About the OBE Recipients' List
- The OBE recognises major contributions in various fields, including public service, charity, business, culture, science, sport, and community work.
- Any UK citizen and citizens of Commonwealth Nations may be nominated for an OBE. Non-British citizens may receive an honorary OBE.
- Any UK citizen may nominate a worthy candidate for consideration for an OBE or other Order of the British Empire award.
- The Gazette publishes the list of OBE recipients twice each year: in December and in June.
Who Are Some Famous OBE Recipients?
OBE recipients come from all walks of life, from public service and politics to the arts and entertainment sectors. Volunteers, care workers, athletes, and tech sector workers also qualify. This table lists a sampling of OBE recipients from various sectors; below, you'll discover more famous OBE recipients.
| 😇 Honouree | 🏢 Position | 🥇 Their works/deeds | 📅 When awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Colleton Buxton | Chief Executive Officer, Action on Disability and lately Chair, British Deaf Association | For services to the Deaf and British Sign Language Communities. | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Lisa Anne Crausby | Executive Director, Star Academies | For services to Education | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Thomas Edward Halliwell | Captain of the England Wheelchair Rugby League | For services to Wheelchair Rugby League | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Ben Commins | Executive Headteacher, Queen’s Park Early Years Federation and Queen’s Park Primary School | For services to Early Years and to Education | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| Sally Fenton | Built Environment Innovation Team, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | For services to Net Zero Innovation | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| John William Kennedy | Scouts Scotland Treasurer and Volunteer | For services to Scouting and to Young People | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| Professor David Vincent Ford | Professor of Informatics | For services to Social Science | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Allison Dowzell | Managing Director, Screen Alliance Wales | For services to Broadcasting | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Geraint Wyn Jenkins | H.M. Courts and Tribunals Service | For public service | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Elizabeth Pamela Checkley | Deputy Director for Legal Aid, Policy Group | For services to Access to Justice | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| The Reverend Professor Sylvia Denise Dyas | Director, Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture | For services to Theology and to Heritage | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| Helen Jacklin | Team Leader, Ministry of Defence | For services to Defence | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| Gisela Maame Ama Abakoma Abbam | Chair of General Pharmaceutical Council | For services to the Pharmacy Professions and Health | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
| Andrew Elliott | Team Leader, Ministry of Defence | For services to Defence | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
| Paul Oxborough | Founder of Mental Health Motorbike | For services to Mental Health and to Charity | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
Admittedly, it's quite the task combing through Gazette listings to find people you know who might have been nominated. If you've nominated someone for OBE recognition, you'll save time by searching the database for their names to see if they've been recognised5. But these names need no search; their award usually gets wide press coverage.
Famous Actors With An OBE
26 March 1985 in London
High-profile film roles: Pirates of the Caribbean series, Star Wars, Pride and Prejudice, and many others.
Strong support for human rights, Women's Aid, spinal muscular atrophy, environmental concerns and sustainability.
Considered one of the most influential people in British culture, Ms Knightley received the OBE in 2018 for her services to charity and drama.
31 March 1971 in Perth, Scotland
Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge! and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films and the 2022 TV series.
A UNICEF UK ambassador for more than two decades.
New Year Honours 2013, "For services to Drama and Charity".
6 September 1976 in Islington, London
Miss Moneypenny in the Daniel Craig James Bond films, and an Oscar-nominated role in Moonlight.
New Year Honours 2017, "For services to Drama".
Famous Musicians With An OBE
28 May 1968 in Melbourne, Australia
Charlene in Neighbours, followed by nearly four decades of pop hits, from "I Should Be So Lucky" to "Padam Padam".
New Year Honours 2008, "For services to Music".
20 January 1971 in Frodsham, Cheshire
Frontman and chief songwriter of Take That, and organiser of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Concert.
Birthday Honours 2012, "For services to the Entertainment Industry and to Charity".
25 December 1954 in Aberdeen
Eurythmics ("Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)") and a successful solo career.
New Year Honours 2011, "For services to Oxfam". Her citation recognises her long-running work as an Oxfam ambassador.
Sports Stars With An OBE
21 May 1994 in Plymouth
Diving. He won Olympic gold in the synchronised 10m platform at Tokyo 2020, after competing at his first Olympics aged 14.
New Year Honours 2022, "For services to Diving, to LGBTQ+ Rights and Charity".
4 June 1991 in Christchurch, New Zealand
Cricket. He was the hero of England's 2019 World Cup final win and later became England Test captain.
New Year Honours 2020, "For services to Cricket".
15 October 1989 in Watford
Boxing. He won Olympic super-heavyweight gold at London 2012 and was twice heavyweight champion of the world.
Birthday Honours 2018, "For services to Sport". This followed an MBE in 2013.
5 December 1975 in Wordsley, West Midlands
Snooker. He is a seven-time world champion, widely regarded as the most naturally gifted player in the sport's history.
New Year Honours 2016, "For services to Snooker".
23 April 1988 in West Yorkshire
Sports: Alistair is the world's only triathlete to win back-to-back gold medals in triathlon events.
He launched the Brownlee Foundation in 2014 to encourage children to participate in sports and embrace active lifestyles.
Before receiving his 2025 OBE for services to triathlon and charity, Alistair received the MBE for services to triathlon.
30 July 1999 in Leeds
Cycling - cross-country mountain biking, cyclo-cross, and road bike racing.
Thomas received the Laureus Action Sports Sportsperson of the Year award in 2025, and has been nominated for the same in 2026.
Recognised in 2025 for his services to cycling.
Chefs, Designers and Business Stars With An OBE
8 November 1966 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire
Michelin-starred restaurants around the world and TV shows including Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares.
New Year Honours 2006, "For services to the Hospitality Industry".
27 May 1966 in Shepherd's Bush, London
The Fat Duck in Bray, famous for its scientific approach to cooking.
Also in the New Year Honours 2006, with the same citation as Gordon Ramsay: "For services to the Hospitality Industry".
17 April 1974 in Harlow, Essex
"Posh Spice" in the Spice Girls, and later founder of her own fashion label.
New Year Honours 2017, "For services to the Fashion Industry". Her husband, David, received his OBE in 2003 and has since been knighted.
Authors With An OBE
28 November 1970 in Billericay, Essex
Co-presenting Pointless, and writing the best-selling Thursday Murder Club novels.
New Year Honours 2026, "For services to Literature and Broadcasting".
22 August 1948 in Brighton
The Roy Grace crime novels, set in his home city of Brighton.
Birthday Honours 2026, "For services to Literature and to Charity".
What Is an OBE?
Many countries have honour systems; France and Canada have especially well-developed awards programs1. By contrast, the UK honours structure is a touch modest. The Order of the British Empire roster counts just five ranks, of which the OBE is the second lowest.
Above the senior rank (MBE), we find knights and dames. The Knight/Dame Commander ((KBE/DBE) the and Grand Cross (GBE) awards allow those honourees the 'Sir' and 'Dame' titles, a privilege that the lower ranks may not exercise.
The 'rank' designation is a nod to the honour system's military roots. Though these honours are called 'ranks', one doesn't necessarily start at the lowest rank and work their way up.
Dame Judy Dench is a case in point. In 1970, she was accorded the OBE honour - the slightly higher rank. In 1988, she was 'promoted' to Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), bypassing the CBE rank. She earned all her honours for services to drama.
People who nominate a worthy candidate for an honour do not pick the honour their candidate is worthy of. That's for the Honours Secretariat to decide. As noted above, each honour recognises a specific level of contribution: local/regional, regional/national, and national/international. Once notified of their award, honourees will attend the investiture ceremony.
When Are OBE Recipients Announced?
Just like the Chivalry Honours in Britain, the Order of the British Empire Honours ceremony take place twice each year.
In January: the New Year Honours
In June: the King's Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours take place on the monarch's official birthday, in June. Just ahead of these investiture events, various outlets publish the list of OBE recipients, typically amidst the other ranks' lists. The King or his designee then distributes the awards in a formal ceremony.
Occasionally, the Monarch will issue special awards.
These ceremonies happen any time throughout the year, outside the Honours ceremonies.
These awards typically represent political and operational honours, as well as recognition given through royal prerogative. According someone a life peerage is an example of a royal prerogative award. Other special honours include:
- Privy counsellor awards: such as when MPs join the council.
- Political Honours: recognition for senior officials and past ministers.
- Operational Awards: for police or military field service.
The London Gazette publishes lists of special awards as the royal house communicates those announcements. Because these special awards are not bestowed on a regular schedule, we must keep checking the Gazette for the next special awards list.
Can Anyone Be Nominated?
Yes, anyone can be nominated for an honour. In fact, you can nominate a worthy candidate by directing yourself to the UK government web page, which offers tips on how to fill out the official nomination form it provides.
Any person you select for an honour must have demonstrated a strong record of service or achievement in their field.
When you fill out the honours nomination form, you must provide your intended recipient's name and other statistics, such as birthdate and address. By far, the most challenging part of the nomination process is describing that person's deeds. Doing so effectively takes long and careful consideration, as you must provide lots of evidence why they should receive an honour3.
You may not select the level of award your nominee should receive.
The Honours Secretariat decides whether nominees merit an MBE, OBE, or CBE based on the magnitude of the nominee's reach and other factors. Once the Secretariat staff has made its decisions, it forwards the nomination packages to the main Honours Committee for a final review.
This committee may further trim the list of nominees or shift some nominations from one honours list to another before forwarding it to the Prime Minister's office. There, the lists get a final stamp of approval before arriving at the king's inbox. The Gazette receives a copy of the final nominations list for publication just ahead of the honours ceremony.
No matter how beneficial your deeds or how far-reaching an impact your actions have, you may not nominate yourself for an award.
The Honours Secretariat reviews thousands of nominations packages and must vet each one. Beware that any nomination you submit could take up to two years to see any decision. That's because vetting nominations - checking backgrounds and verifying references - is a long, slow process.
Not Just Celebrities: Everyday OBE Recipients
Most OBEs go to people whose names never make the headlines: headteachers, civil servants, charity founders and volunteers. This table shows a sample of recent recipients.
| 😇 Honouree | 🏢 Position | 🥇 Their works/deeds | 📅 When awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Colleton Buxton | Chief Executive Officer, Action on Disability and lately Chair, British Deaf Association | For services to the Deaf and British Sign Language Communities. | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Lisa Anne Crausby | Executive Director, Star Academies | For services to Education | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Thomas Edward Halliwell | Captain of the England Wheelchair Rugby League | For services to Wheelchair Rugby League | Birthday Honours, 2023 |
| Ben Commins | Executive Headteacher, Queen’s Park Early Years Federation and Queen’s Park Primary School | For services to Early Years and to Education | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| Sally Fenton | Built Environment Innovation Team, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | For services to Net Zero Innovation | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| John William Kennedy | Scouts Scotland Treasurer and Volunteer | For services to Scouting and to Young People | New Year Honours, 2024 |
| Professor David Vincent Ford | Professor of Informatics | For services to Social Science | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Allison Dowzell | Managing Director, Screen Alliance Wales | For services to Broadcasting | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Geraint Wyn Jenkins | H.M. Courts and Tribunals Service | For public service | Birthday Honours, 2025 |
| Elizabeth Pamela Checkley | Deputy Director for Legal Aid, Policy Group | For services to Access to Justice | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| The Reverend Professor Sylvia Denise Dyas | Director, Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture | For services to Theology and to Heritage | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| Helen Jacklin | Team Leader, Ministry of Defence | For services to Defence | New Year Honours, 2026 |
| Gisela Maame Ama Abakoma Abbam | Chair of General Pharmaceutical Council | For services to the Pharmacy Professions and Health | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
| Andrew Elliott | Team Leader, Ministry of Defence | For services to Defence | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
| Paul Oxborough | Founder of Mental Health Motorbike | For services to Mental Health and to Charity | Birthday Honours, 2026 |
If you've nominated someone, you'll save time by searching an honours database for their name rather than combing through every Gazette listing.
Famous People Who Turned Down An OBE
Over the years, hundreds of people have refused the Honour award they had been nominated for4. Among them, we find Alan Bennett (refused twice!), Roald Dahl, and the above-quoted John Oliver, who had been nominated for an OBE. This information is typically kept quiet, but comedian Oliver made his refusal public in his 2019 interview with Conan O'Brien.
Why on Earth would I want that?
John Oliver
With all those refusals, you might wonder what it serves to receive an OBE. After all, the internationally renowned music star, David Bowie, declined to receive an MBE honour, stating it was irrelevant to his career. Which begs the question: what relevance do these honours have today?
David Bowie was already known all over the world by the time he received notification of his award. He could afford to turn down an honour that primarily serves to boost one's reputation.
But for otherwise anonymous workers, public servants, and educators, receiving an OBE enhances their profile substantially. Granted, an honour doesn't put more money in anyone's pockets.
However, it does improve their chances of employment and promotion. We might consider it a seal of approval on one's good character, a testament to one's contributions to British culture and society.
References
- Heydel-Mankoo, Rafal . “House of Commons - Public Administration - Written Evidence.” Parliament.Uk, 2026, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/212we41.htm. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.
- Kids Encyclopaedia Facts. Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the United Kingdom Facts for Kids. 1 Jan. 2026, https://kids.kiddle.co/Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom#Special_Honours. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.
- Staff. “General Guidance for Writing a Nomination.” Imperial College London, 2019, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/staff/college-staff-recognition-awards/culture-community/how-to-nominate/general-guidance-for-writing-a-nomination/. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.
- BBC News. “Queen’s Honours: People Who Have Turned Them Down Named.” BBC News, 26 Jan. 2012, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-16736495. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.
- McKie, Mike. “Honours Database.” Bayleaf - Recognition Experts, 12 Jan. 2023, https://wearebayleaf.com/honours-database/. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.
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