Community champions from Corby, Kettering and Rushden included in King’s Birthday Honours list
A woman who has been at the helm of a dance group in Corby for more than five decades and a champion of the deaf and disabled communities are among those to be recognised in this year’s Birthday Honours.
May Cardwell received a British Empire Medal for services to dance and to the community in Corby. May, who lives in East Carlton, has been at the helm of Shape Dance classes in Corby for more than 50 years.
The dance club, which runs at community centres across the town, puts on two shows each year, and has benefited thousands of children and young people, with generations of families attending the groups. May's dancers have previously danced for the queen.
Craig Crowley has been given an OBE for services to deafblind people. Chief executive of Action Deafness, Craig has been instrumental in leading the deaf and disability sectors for more than a quarter of a century.
Craig, from Corby, served as co-chair of the BSL advisory board under the government’s disability unit from 2022 until 2025.
He’s a trustee of the Royal School for the deaf and, as a deaflympian, served as the eighth president of the Deaflympics.
Also honoured is Cllr Barbara Jenney, who has received a British Empire Medal for services to the East Northants community.
Shehas served as a local councillor for 22 years, being elected to Rushden Town Council in 2003, East Northants Council in 2007, and North Northants Council in 2021.
She served as chairman of NNC for 2023/24 and was re-elected to the council for 2025-2028.
Barbara was also part of the successful campaign to get Rushden Lakes built.
Among those from North Northamptonshire named in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours are:
OBE
Professor Sheila Macdonald Bird – for services to statistics (Kettering)
Mark Jonathan Byers, chief operating officer, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services – for public service (Kettering)
Craig Andrew Wyn Crowley, chief executive officer, Action Deafness, and inaugural co-chair of The British Sign Language Advisory Board – for services to deaf and deafblind people (Corby)
Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and chief executive, Dementia UK – for services to people affected by dementia (Kettering)
MBE
Mark Vincent Major, chief executive, Northamptonshire Carers – for services to carers (Kettering)
Ronald William Sawford, co-founder and lately managing director, Teamwork Trust, and co-founder, Hansa Class UK – for services to charity and to disabled people (Kettering )
BEM
May Cardwell – for services to dance and to the community in Corby (East Carlton)
Isabella Barbara Jenney, Councillor, North Northamptonshire Council and Rushden Town Council – for services to the community in East Northamptonshire (Rushden)
Charles Marlow Obazuaye, director of human resources, customer services and public affairs, London Borough of Bromley – for public service (Corby)
Janine Constance Musson, gymnastics coach, judge and lately chair, Bedfordshire Gymnastics Association – for services to gymnastics. (Rushden)