Jess Carter has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list, joining a group of people with links to Coventry and Warwickshire recognised for their work. Warwick-born Lionesses footballer Carter is one of the clearest sporting names on the list, and her honour puts her alongside other local figures also marked out by the King.
The timing matters because the honours are being read now, and because readers are looking for the names attached to them. Lee Carsley, who played more than 70 games for Coventry City and now manages the England Under21s, was also made a Member of the British Empire, while Professor Glen Burley received a knighthood as chief executive at Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. Martin Reeves was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire after 14 years in the same role at Coventry City Council.
Carter's MBE is the headline name for many in the region, but the list does not spell out the specific achievement behind it. That is what leaves some of the recognition open to interpretation: the honour is clear, the reason behind it is not. For a footballer who has become a familiar figure through England and the Lionesses, the award confirms national recognition without adding the detail that usually explains how it was earned.
The strongest local story, though, may belong to Becki Coombe, who was awarded a British Empire Medal for her work with young people who are not in education or training. Coombe, from Coventry, founded the Learn2 group in 1996, and she said the letter telling her about the honour went to an old address and had been opened. She described it as confusing, because by the time it reached her she thought it was something she no longer needed after moving out.
Scott Caswell, a Warwickshire Police officer, also received the British Empire Medal for his work as armed forces lead for the force. He spent 10 years in the Military Police before joining the civilian service, has trained custody sergeants on how best to deal with veterans they meet, and has set up a national working group to introduce a digital training package for officers across all forces. He said he had never expected the recognition and has focused instead on giving fellow officers the best tools possible when veterans are in crisis.
That mix of national honours and local service gives the list its shape. It is not just a roll of awards; it is a snapshot of how Coventry and Warwickshire are being represented in public life right now. For Carter, the question that remains is simple and unresolved: what specific work most helped carry her into the King's Birthday Honours list?
