New Year Honours for Arts and Humanities Alumni

Four members of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures' alumni community have been named in the 2022 New Year Honours list.

Graduating from the University of Leeds in 1976 with a BA in English, John Battle went on to become an MP for Leeds West. In this year’s honours list he has been knighted for political and public service.

School of English alumna Kim Shutler was also recognised, awarded an MBE “for services to people with mental health issues” in her position as Chief Executive Officer of The Cellar Trust – a charity that supports people with mental health problems across the Bradford district. Kim is a former National Project Manager for Performance, Engagement and Wellbeing at the University of Leeds, and was an executive officer at Leeds University Union.

Two School of History alumni are also among those receiving recognition.

Alison Lowe has been awarded an OBE “for services to mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19” through her former role as Chief Executive Officer at Touchstone, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in West and South Yorkshire. Alison, who graduated from History and Medieval Studies in 1992, was the first black female Leeds city councillor and is now West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

Lastly, Leeds alumnus Jonny Brownlee who graduated from the School of History in 2012, has been made an MBE for services to triathlon.