0:00:02 > 0:00:06With Christmas over, our thoughts turn to the New Year.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09In two days' time, in a uniquely British custom,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12our head of state, her Majesty the Queen,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15will honour the great and good for services to their country.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20Since 1877, the New Year Honours List has made the headlines,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23and in recent years, we've seen actors, sporting heroes,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26even some Songs Of Praise presenters collecting their medals
0:00:26 > 0:00:28from the palace.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31But it's not all about famous faces.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Most of the 2,000 or so honours every year go to people
0:00:35 > 0:00:37most of us have never heard of.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40But with hard work and humility, they have served their communities.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46This week, we hear the story of one man's bravery on the buses.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48An MBE for giving out chocolates.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And an OBE for the man changing Manchester.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53And we'll be giving God the honour in song,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55with the help of Only Boys Allowed
0:00:55 > 0:00:59and Matt Redman's international hit, 10,000 Reasons.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13There is one place in the country to which all those with honours
0:01:13 > 0:01:15have privileged access.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18We are in St Paul's Cathedral and this is the OBE Chapel,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and people who've been given honours are allowed to hold
0:01:22 > 0:01:24family weddings and baptisms here.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29The chapel commemorates the founding of the Order of the British Empire
0:01:29 > 0:01:31in 1917 by King George V
0:01:31 > 0:01:35to honour the efforts of the public in the First World War.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38These days, the Cabinet Office in Westminster
0:01:38 > 0:01:41takes care of the process, and it's far more open than it used to be.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Anyone can nominate anyone for an honour.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50We then consider those nominations.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53The recommendations then go to the Prime Minister
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and those recommendations are put forward to the Queen.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01We feel an immense sense of pride for what people have achieved.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Actually, you feel a bit humble
0:02:03 > 0:02:07because they have done quite extraordinary things.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10It is often a validation of years and years
0:02:10 > 0:02:14of terrific work in their community.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19The idea of giving honour is at the heart of the Christian faith.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21The word "worship" means giving worth.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23And we do that now with our first hymn,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26written by a retired bishop, Timothy Dudley-Smith.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30He's got an OBE himself for services to hymnody.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Before anyone's honour is announced,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44a strictly confidential procedure is followed.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47When somebody is put forward for an honour,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50they have, themselves, to agree to take the honour.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And they can indeed turn it down.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56And we expect them then to send us a letter back saying yes or no.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58If they are anything like me,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01you worry whether you've ticked the right box for a few weeks.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04The medals themselves are prepared by hand
0:05:04 > 0:05:06at small factories, like this one.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12And each medal represents a different kind of service.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17The knighthood is for exceptional achievement
0:05:17 > 0:05:20at national and sometimes international level.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23CBE is also typically national.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26When we come to the OBE,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30we are thinking very much about regional or county level.
0:05:30 > 0:05:36And then MBE and BEM are for local community achievement.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40So the fact that the honour comes from the Queen,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42it's recognition at the highest level
0:05:42 > 0:05:45of what they've done, often for many, many years.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Joan Kingham has spent her entire life in Dursley in Gloucestershire.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- How are you?- Very well. - How are the children?- Excellent.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06She was given the MBE in 2011 after 70 years of voluntary work.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Just one of her many achievements was to help start this day centre
0:08:12 > 0:08:14for elderly people nearly 50 years ago.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17At 94, she is now older than all the visitors.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Visit a lot of sick people in hospital.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I visit people in their homes.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Why do all this work, though, when you could have retired
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and have a quiet life and put your feet up?
0:08:29 > 0:08:30I'd be bored stiff.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Wouldn't suit me at all, no, I like being with people.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34I've always liked that
0:08:34 > 0:08:38and I think it's part of my faith too, really.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42John chapter 10, Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44"Life in all its fullness.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46"Life in the here and now."
0:08:46 > 0:08:48And for me, that's Dursley.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Tell me how it felt when you learned that you had been given the MBE.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58I was flabbergasted. It was a great honour.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02But the thing that thrilled me most was that it pleased other people.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Everybody was so excited. More excited than I was, I think.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08There were so many there. It was so wonderful, yes.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09I still don't know why I got it
0:09:09 > 0:09:12because whatever I was able to do in Dursley,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15I did because I liked doing it. It wasn't a chore at all.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19And do you have strong memories of the investiture?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23SHE LAUGHS As you can see, I'm very wobbly now.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26And in those days, three years ago, I was still rather wobbly.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30I had a horror of falling on the Queen.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Having to curtsy was a bit of a task for me.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36I only gave a little bob, I think.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39And you wore something special that day, didn't you?
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I wore my best suit and I wore a hat.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Which is something unheard of. I never wear hats.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49This was, I suppose you'd call it, do they call them fascinators?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Fascinators, yes.- Little thing you stick on the back of your head.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Oh, I looked absolutely ridiculous.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58So what did you do with it afterwards?
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Oh, that's another story. I gave it to my church for their auction sale.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And my friend bought it for £20. She had a bargain.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08THEY LAUGH
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Joan, one of your favourite hymns is, I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Why do you like that one so much?
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It speaks so much of what God does for people
0:10:18 > 0:10:22because of rest and peace and life and light.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25And can you remember what those words are?
0:10:25 > 0:10:29"I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34"I found in him a resting place and he has made me glad."
0:12:50 > 0:12:54In the 1980s, a spate of thefts from Andy Hawthorne's fashion factory
0:12:54 > 0:12:56in Manchester gave him the motivation
0:12:56 > 0:12:58to try and help local youngsters.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02I well remember coming to this factory in the middle of the night,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and we probably got phone calls three or four times from the police.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08In fact, chasing lads down that very street there,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10they were carrying our stock.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14It seemed like the lads who were growing up here knew little of Christ
0:13:14 > 0:13:17and certainly had never seen the Christian faith demonstrated.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20And me and my brother had his dream that maybe we could see the church
0:13:20 > 0:13:23mobilise for tough, inner-city communities like this.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28And it began on a wing and a prayer,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31forming a pop band to play at local events.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Its success allowed him to found the Message Trust.
0:13:34 > 0:13:3626 years later,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40that same charity has been praised for rejuvenating council estates
0:13:40 > 0:13:43around the UK and seeing dramatic reductions in crime.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50It's been an amazing 26-year journey
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and starting to see transformation come.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56We're not the silver bullet for mission for Manchester,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58but definitely, we've played our part.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00And Manchester is a very different place.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02We're not seeing full-blown revival yet,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05that's what we're dreaming for, but things are different.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09The only one who can get you a place in heaven, Jesus Christ...
0:14:09 > 0:14:12In Andy's newest venture, he's helping young people in prison
0:14:12 > 0:14:15who face the challenge of returning to life on the outside.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18The day they come out of prison, we can provide them with a job,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21we can provide them with a home in a safe environment
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and we can provide them with supported mentoring.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28And every single young offender that we've been able to deliver that to
0:14:28 > 0:14:29hasn't re-offended.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33They haven't even been back in court. I mean, it's a miracle.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Five years ago, Mo Timbo was serving a prison sentence.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Today, he's a manager for a phone company.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43'Andy's ministry and the Message Trust, they gave me hope.'
0:14:45 > 0:14:47They prayed for me, they give me advice,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49they give me a vision for my life
0:14:49 > 0:14:52'that let me know, no matter what your past has been like,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54'there's always a future for you.'
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I certainly don't think the OBE has changed me,
0:14:59 > 0:15:01apart from I've got three letters on my business card.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Mr Andrew Hawthorne.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07When you're as in your face with your Christian faith as we are,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09people can think you are a bit wacko.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12But there is a credibility that comes from it.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Actually, the OBE came because of work amongst young people
0:15:15 > 0:15:18in Greater Manchester that's delivering.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21It's a bit like getting your obituary before time
0:15:21 > 0:15:24when you get an OBE. And you realise how much, well,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27how much you're loved, but how much this work is loved.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31What motivates me to keep going
0:15:31 > 0:15:34is the amazing stories of changed lives.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Just when I feel like giving up,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I'll hear another dramatic story of somebody who's just utterly,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44utterly messed up, and that person has now gone
0:15:44 > 0:15:47and not just made some little Christian commitment,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49but gone on to do great things in their own right.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52'That's what keeps me going and that's what gets me
0:15:52 > 0:15:54'out of bed in the morning. We love the fact'
0:15:54 > 0:15:55that God changes lives,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58that's what we are about, the Message Trust -
0:15:58 > 0:16:00any life, no life is too broken
0:16:00 > 0:16:02for God not to put it back together again.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04A mate of mine, Matt Redman,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06has written a beautiful song called 10,000 Reasons,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and we have 10,000 reasons
0:16:08 > 0:16:11and a whole lot more to praise God at the moment.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16# The sun comes up
0:16:16 > 0:16:20# It's a new day dawning
0:16:20 > 0:16:25# It's time to sing your song again
0:16:25 > 0:16:29# Whatever may pass
0:16:29 > 0:16:33# And whatever lies before me
0:16:35 > 0:16:41# Let me be singing when the evening comes
0:16:42 > 0:16:46# Bless the Lord, O my soul
0:16:46 > 0:16:49# O my soul
0:16:49 > 0:16:54# Worship his holy name
0:16:55 > 0:16:59# Sing like never before
0:16:59 > 0:17:03# O my soul
0:17:03 > 0:17:07# I'll worship your holy name
0:17:09 > 0:17:12# You're rich in love
0:17:12 > 0:17:16# And you're slow to anger
0:17:16 > 0:17:18# Your name is great
0:17:18 > 0:17:22# And your heart is kind
0:17:22 > 0:17:26# For all your goodness
0:17:26 > 0:17:29# I will keep on singing
0:17:32 > 0:17:37# 10,000 reasons for my heart to find
0:17:38 > 0:17:43# So bless the Lord, O my soul
0:17:43 > 0:17:45# O my soul
0:17:45 > 0:17:50# Worship his holy name
0:17:52 > 0:17:55# Sing like never before
0:17:55 > 0:17:59# O my soul
0:17:59 > 0:18:04# I worship your holy name
0:18:05 > 0:18:08# And on that day
0:18:08 > 0:18:12# When my strength is failing
0:18:12 > 0:18:19# The end draws near and my time has come
0:18:19 > 0:18:23# Still my soul will sing your praise
0:18:23 > 0:18:27# Unending
0:18:27 > 0:18:34# 10,000 years and then forevermore
0:18:34 > 0:18:37# Forevermore
0:18:38 > 0:18:41# Bless the Lord, oh, my soul
0:18:43 > 0:18:45# Oh, my soul
0:18:45 > 0:18:49# Worship his holy name
0:18:51 > 0:18:55# Sing like never before
0:18:55 > 0:18:59# Oh, my soul
0:18:59 > 0:19:04# I'll worship your holy name
0:19:04 > 0:19:09# Bless the Lord, oh, my soul
0:19:09 > 0:19:12# Oh, my soul
0:19:12 > 0:19:16# Worship his holy name
0:19:17 > 0:19:22# Sing like never before
0:19:22 > 0:19:25# Oh, my soul
0:19:25 > 0:19:30# I'll worship your holy name
0:19:31 > 0:19:38# Yes, I will worship your holy name
0:19:38 > 0:19:42# Lord, I'll worship your holy name. #
0:19:51 > 0:19:56West Croydon bus station is managed by Nana Nyarko, MBE.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58My job is different. Every day is different.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03In August 2011, he found himself in the line of fire.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Extraordinary scenes in London tonight
0:20:06 > 0:20:10as fires, riots and lootings spread across large parts of the capital.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14A massive blaze is burning in Croydon in south London
0:20:14 > 0:20:15after a furniture store...
0:20:15 > 0:20:18During the London riots, Nana took decisive action
0:20:18 > 0:20:19to protect the public in Croydon
0:20:19 > 0:20:22from the growing unrest across the capital.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I don't think they even knew what they were doing.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Some of them were just following their friends,
0:20:29 > 0:20:30shouting, running around.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Because of the volume, I thought, "I have to keep my station safe."
0:20:37 > 0:20:40So I thought, "I'll close the station."
0:20:43 > 0:20:45So, was it just you? Were you the last one here?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- I was with my cleaner. - With the cleaner?
0:20:51 > 0:20:54I can remember a kid came to me and said to me,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56"Uncle, it's better you go home."
0:20:56 > 0:20:59And I thought, "No, I'm not going home. I'm on duty.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01"I'm staying on until my duty is over."
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- Were you scared at any point? - No, I wasn't.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08In west Croydon, you have to talk to these kids like your own kids,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10so I was just doing my job.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14How did you feel when you found out about the MBE?
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Oh! It was a humbling experience.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21I received the honour to share... That's the word,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25to share with my family, my friends and my work colleagues.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29When we were driving through the gates of Buckingham Palace,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31my sister just said,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34"This is not an honour from anyone, it's an honour from God.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36"You know, for you to be honoured."
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Prince Charles saw me and he knew for sure I'm from Ghana.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44I said to him, "I'll be going home to show the award to my mum."
0:21:44 > 0:21:47He just said, "I hope Mum is proud of you."
0:21:48 > 0:21:51When you go to church, is there a favourite hymn of yours?
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Yes, Amazing Grace.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57I don't know what that song does to me. It just raises my spirit.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59I like that song, Amazing Grace.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08# Amazing grace
0:24:50 > 0:24:53# Amazing love
0:24:54 > 0:24:57# Amazing grace
0:24:57 > 0:25:01# Amazing love
0:25:03 > 0:25:07# Amazing grace. #
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Britain's busiest RAF base is Brize Norton.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20And it's home to Meg Atkinson MBE, who, for 40 years,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23has been sweetly spreading the gospel.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26This is a Meg's Mix.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31It's got all different things in and it comes with a little smiley face.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Smile, God Loves You.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I like to feed the body as well as the soul.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Meg works for SASRA,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Reader Association,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44offering Christian support to the armed forces.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46CHEERING
0:25:46 > 0:25:48How are you doing, guys?
0:25:48 > 0:25:50She's just relentlessly enthusiastic.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53You see Meg and she'll cheer you up straight away.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57She always talks about God and gives you chocolate.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59More importantly, she makes you happy.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Food for thought.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Who would like to tackle this little exercise?
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Wherever the lads and lasses are working,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I'm allowed to go in and get alongside them.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11CHEERING
0:26:11 > 0:26:14I only know about fishing nets.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18The military just really is full of banter.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22But, of course, I'm able to give it back as well.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23And in a good way.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30Meg's infectious enthusiasm, and rather, dare I say it,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32sort of impish wit and humour,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34you can't be bored,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37you can't be miserable when Meg's around.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39She will lift your spirits at every turn,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41and when you're least expecting it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45Meg deals with people who put their lives on the line.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47And she wants them to have an understanding
0:26:47 > 0:26:51of what the Christian faith and what Jesus Christ has done for them.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54And at the end of the day, that's what she's really talking about.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Miss Meg Atkinson, for services
0:26:57 > 0:27:00to the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Reader Association.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Meeting Princess Royal in investiture
0:27:03 > 0:27:06was really, really lovely and a real honour.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11And she did tell me to be careful and to take care of myself.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15The MBE hasn't changed me at all.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20I still do my ministry with the same enthusiasm, and I find even now,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24I'm more comfortable calling it my Meg's Best Efforts
0:27:24 > 0:27:28because I can get quite emotional about it, even now.
0:27:35 > 0:27:43# Our Father
0:27:43 > 0:27:49# Which art in heaven
0:27:52 > 0:27:56# Hallowed be
0:27:56 > 0:28:01# Hallowed be
0:28:01 > 0:28:04# Thy name
0:28:10 > 0:28:16# Thy kingdom come
0:28:18 > 0:28:23# Thy will be done
0:28:23 > 0:28:27# On earth
0:28:27 > 0:28:36# As it is in heaven
0:28:53 > 0:28:58# Give us this day
0:28:58 > 0:29:03# Our daily bread
0:29:03 > 0:29:07# And forgive us our trespasses
0:29:07 > 0:29:13# As we forgive those who trespass against us
0:29:17 > 0:29:23# And lead us not into temptation
0:29:23 > 0:29:28# But deliver us from evil
0:29:28 > 0:29:34# For thine is the kingdom
0:29:34 > 0:29:41# And the power and the glory
0:29:41 > 0:29:46# Forever
0:29:48 > 0:29:53# And ever
0:29:53 > 0:29:58# Amen
0:29:58 > 0:30:05# For thine is the kingdom
0:30:05 > 0:30:12# And the power and the glory
0:30:12 > 0:30:19# Forever
0:30:19 > 0:30:24# And ever
0:30:24 > 0:30:30# Amen
0:30:30 > 0:30:39# Amen. #
0:30:46 > 0:30:50Heavenly father, we give all the glory and honour to you,
0:30:50 > 0:30:52for you alone deserve it.
0:30:52 > 0:30:58Thank you for your gracious love fulfilling us every day.
0:30:59 > 0:31:00And may that love transform us
0:31:00 > 0:31:03and change the lives of everyone across the nation.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06In Jesus' name, amen.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12It's easy to be overawed by the achievements of the people we've met this week,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15but it's worth remembering that they only received their honours
0:31:15 > 0:31:17because someone noticed and nominated them.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19And any one of us can do that.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22Perhaps it's fitting, then, that our last hymn
0:31:22 > 0:31:26comes from a wordsmith whose MBE was for services to hymn writing.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28The late Fred Pratt Green.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Next week, for Epiphany Sunday, David finds out
0:33:30 > 0:33:33what we can learn from the Wise Men in the Christmas story
0:33:33 > 0:33:37and why this is such an important festival in the Eastern Church.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39There are glorious hymns from Blackburn Cathedral
0:33:39 > 0:33:43and inspirational music from soul singer, Carleen Anderson.