Ilkley-born Alan Titchmarsh and the Chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust are among those receiving awards in the 2025 New Year Honours.
Alan Titchmarsh, 75, started his career as an apprentice gardener with Ilkley Council back in the 1960s and still has many ties with his hometown including as a Patron of the Ilkley Manor House Trust and Ilkley Playhouse.
25 years after receiving the MBE in the 2000 New Years Honours, Alan now becomes a CBE for his services to horticulture and charity.
The end of year awards also honour Sarah Thomas, Chair of Ilkley Arts and Chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust, who receives the British Empire Medal (BEM) for voluntary and charitable services in Ilkley. Sarah is a former NHS Director.
Taking about the award to Ilkley Chat, Sarah said:
"I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this honour. Being part of the teams at Ilkley Arts and Ilkley Manor House has been a privilege and a complete pleasure."
Ilkley resident Victoria Robertshaw is awarded the OBE for services to the retail sector. Along with brother James she ran the Keelham Farm Shop at Keelham, which expanded to Skipton in 2015 before being sold by the family in March 2020. More recently she founded Green Street, a project designed to help smaller retailers become more sustainable at speed.
Other regional recipients of New Years Honours this year include former England football manager Gareth Southgate, who lives at Fewston between Otley and Harrogate. He receives a Knighthood and becomes Sir Gareth.