Lioness and pottery owner among honour recipients

A footballer and ceramics industry leader have been named among the Staffordshire recipients in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Lioness Rachel Daly, from Tamworth, and Emma Bridgewater, owner of the eponymous Stoke-on-Trent-based pottery firm, were appointed MBE and DBE respectively.

Daly, who currently plays for Aston Villa, received the honour for services to Association Football, having been part of England's victorious Euro 2022 campaign.

The striker has 84 international appearances and also holds the Women's Super League's joint record for the most goals in a season with 22.

Ms Bridgewater was honoured for her services to ceramics having founded Emma Bridgewater Pottery in 1985.

The firm currently employs about 230 people at its factory on Lichfield Street, in Hanley, and the company produces 1.9 million pieces of pottery every year.

She was previously appointed CBE in 2013 for services to British industry.

Other Staffordshire honours include British Empire Medals (BEMs) for foster parents Elisabeth and Gavin Brownlees, an MBE for ice hockey player Saffron Lane and a BEM for volunteer fireman Andrew Buttery.

Councillor Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, congratulated the county's recipients and thanked them for their contributions.

"Staffordshire is a county rich in human talent and I am delighted to see residents' abilities, hard work and achievement recognised in this way," he added.

• Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramics
• Sean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the Crown
• Michael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining community
• Dr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to education
• Prof Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher education
• Rachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association football
• John Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science education
• Saffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sport
• Graham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charity
• Gareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to education
• Elisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care
• Gavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care
• Andrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire
• Valerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Stonnall
• Tracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.