Former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, has been awarded a knighthood in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List.
Sir Nicholas was honoured for services to the financial sector, to the growth economy, and to financial literacy.
He served as the 694th Lord Mayor of the City of London, acting as a global ambassador for the UK financial and professional services industry, in 2022-2023.
During his Mayoral year, Sir Nicholas, who is Chairman of Phoenix Group Holdings, championed his ‘Financing our Future’ theme, culminating in The Mansion House Compact. The scheme commits some of the UK’s largest pension firms to allocate a minimum of 5% of defined contribution funds to unlisted equities by 2030, with the aim of unlocking over £50 billion of new capital by the end of the decade.
Sir Nicholas has been involved in other significant initiatives, including promoting financial literacy, and fundraising in support of schools and community outreach in education.
Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons DL, said:
“It is deeply humbling to receive this honour which reflects the work of many colleagues in the City.
“Our financial services sector is the bedrock of the economy and has a critical role to play in directing the investment needed to deliver growth in productivity and better futures for all.”
Meanwhile, City Corporation elected Member Alderman Alison Gowman has been awarded a CBE for public and voluntary services and sustainability.
Alison is the elected Alderman for the Ward of Dowgate in the Square Mile and a former Sheriff of the City of London. She is a long-serving City Corporation Member, having first been elected in 1991.
She has fulfilled several significant roles for the City Corporation, including chairing the City Bridge Foundation from 2016-2019, and she is now the City Corporation’s lead Member for Climate Action.
Alison is a passionate advocate of sustainability and public service, having spent ten years as a trustee of the Museum of London, and is an Alumna and Honorary Doctor at the University of Durham. She is also a Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral and has worked in the City for 40 years as a solicitor. She became the first female partner at DLA Piper UK, where she is now a consultant.
Alderman Canon Alison Gowman, CBE, said:
“I am delighted to be honoured for my work which has, mostly, been pleasurable and only accomplished with the assistance of many excellent colleagues and supporters.
“I have been fortunate to be able to commit to issues that resonate deeply with my Methodist upbringing and my future hopes for our planet.”
Barbara Hamilton, the City Corporation’s Head of Adult Skills Education and Apprenticeships, received an MBE for services to Adult Education in London.
Judith Finlay, CBE, said:
“I am delighted to receive this wonderful honour. I take it as recognition of the important work that I was fortunate enough to lead alongside so many talented frontline and senior colleagues and partners in other agencies across Ealing.
“But above all, I really value it as a testament of our shared commitment to improving the life chances for children and young people in our community.”
Chief of staff at the City Corporation’s Environment Department, Elisabeth Hannah, was awarded a BEM for charitable service to hospices and child welfare in the City of London and East London.
Elisabeth has been involved in fundraising through cabaret performances and founding Cabaret vs Cancer charity to support those affected by cancer and loss, especially young people.
Barbara Hamilton, MBE, said:
“I am both thrilled and extremely proud to receive this honour for services to adult education. I have most recently been particularly involved in supporting the delivery of adult education in partnerships across the capital.
“Throughout my career, I have understood and been committed to adult education services and their importance in improving educational opportunities and contributing to economic vibrancy everywhere.”
The City Corporation’s Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services, Judith Finlay, was awarded the CBE for services to children and families in her previous role as Executive Director of Adult, Children, and Public Health Services, at Ealing Council. She joined the City Corporation in 2023.
Chief Inspector Caroline Hay, MBE
An officer who has championed the safety of women in the City of London and forged key partnerships to assist victims has been recognised with an MBE in Birthday Honours List.
Chief Inspector Caroline Hay, 39, is the first City of London police officer to be awarded an honour by His Majesty King Charles III. Caroline has spent nearly 20 years in frontline policing having started her career with the Metropolitan Police and transferring to the City of London Police (CoLP) in 2020.
During her short time with CoLP, Caroline has engaged partners from Corporation of London, local business and charities to partake in Operation Reframe – a monthly operation focussing on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), in the nighttime economy.
Caroline also runs Wecops, an online space to draw together the national policing family and partners to share experiences and learning in bi-weekly hourly chats. Through this platform and collaboration with subject matter experts, it is allowing police staff to influence the national policing agenda.
Chief Inspector Caroline Hay MBE said:
“I’m deeply grateful, humbled and still a little shocked to receive this honour. I accept this award on behalf of all the fantastic everyday police officers, which I consider myself to be. Those officers who just want to serve the public, bring the community together and remove criminals from the streets.
“We’ve taken huge strides to make the City safer for women and girls and that is down to dedicated police officers and engaged partners all working together on a common goal.
“I joined the police when I was 20 and knew it was the career for me, as I wanted to help people. Women play a vital role in operational policing. We bring a different perspective and prove day in and day out that brute strength isn’t always the key to bringing a dangerous situation to a successful conclusion. Working in policing brings about daily challenges but there are few more rewarding experiences when you’ve secured the right outcome for the victim, who are at the heart of everything we do.”
Caroline also sits as a board member for the National Policing Strategic Review, chaired by Sir Michael Barber and The Police Foundation.
T/Commissioner Pete O’Doherty said:
“On behalf of everyone at the City of London Police I am delighted to congratulate Caroline on her honour from the King in recognition of her work in local policing in the capital.”
“Caroline has worked tirelessly and with such compassion to drive our activity in response to violence against women and girls. Operation Reframe, our police led partnership approach to keeping women safe in the City at night, that Caroline has been so instrumental in developing, has become a leading safeguarding initiative in the City to keep women in the nighttime economy safe and feeling safe.”
Elisabeth Hannah, BEM, said:
“Cancer is a disease that affects so many. I lost both parents to the disease, and knew I wanted to make a difference.
“Cabaret vs Cancer is a way to support those who are affected by loss and grief. Since 2014 over £350,000 has raised and distributed to good causes.”