A FORMER Birkenhead schoolboy who founded a national newspaper and became a prominent figure in film censorship is one of six Wirralians rewarded in the Queen's New Year's honours list.
Andreas Whittam-Smith - founder editor of The Independent newspaper and ex-president of the British Board of Film classification (BBFC) received a CBE.
The son of a Birkenhead vicar, Andreas went to Birkenhead School and went on to Keeble College, Oxford to read philosophy and economics. In wartime he did two years' national service with the Cheshire Regiment, serving in Cold War Russia. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Liverpool University in 1992 and is still director of The Independent.
Christine Fox, from Neston,deputy director of Inland Revenue picked up an OBE.
MBEs went to Lesley Jennifer Hope; executive officer of the Child Support Agency, John Mason for services to young people, Elaine Whalley; chair of the governing body of Holywell High School and Brian Roy Fleet, managing director of Airbus UK. They were among 21 people awarded honours in the North West.
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