Leeds' Honours Recipients

As well as the nationally recognised names the Queen's New Year Honours list has recognised a number of people who've made a difference here in Leeds too. An MBE has been awarded to Leeds City Council's co-ordinator of this year's Tour de France, Peter Smith, for services to sport. He was also behind many other sporting occasions in the city during his career. Council leader Keith Wakefield's paid tribute, "This award is recognition of a long and distinguished career in public service at Leeds City Council in which Peter played a key role in shaping sport and sports development in the city. Among a long list of achievements were Peter's leading roles in organising the Leeds Marathon and its successor the half-marathon, overseeing the Leeds element of London 2012 in terms of hosting international training camps, the homecoming celebrations for our athletes and the torch relays through the city, plus our annual Sky Ride events. "It was fitting that Peter's final major project before his recent retirement was to co-ordinate the Tour de France Grand Départ for Leeds. That it was such an amazing success was in large part down to the unstinting dedication of Peter and his team, so it is very pleasing to see his exceptional professionalism and commitment to excellence in public service rewarded in this way." Also on the list is the Prinicipal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Janet Smith, who's been given an MBE for services to dance. She's been in charge of the Leeds based dance school since 2011.