The New Year Honours list — it's full of people reaching the end of their careers, or Olympic athletes, right? Wrong. Londoner Jamal Edwards, 24, founder of broadcasting company SBTV, has been appointed MBE.
The Acton-born entrepreneur joins the likes of former Lord Mayor of London, Fiona Woolf, who was appointed a dame commander for services to the legal profession, diversity and the City of London; Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, the creators of the Tower of London poppies display, were appointed MBEs.
Centenarian marathon runner Fauja Singh, from Ilford, was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to sport and charity.
Edwards told the BBC: "I'm overwhelmed. My gran doesn't know yet. My mum and dad know but that's it.
"She (his grandmother) is going to be the most over the moon. I want her to see it before I tell her."
Those appointed CBE include managing director of planning for Transport for London Dr Michelle Dix, and Judith Kelly, artistic director at the Southbank Centre.
Those appointed OBE include Stephen Guyon, lead for rough sleeping for the government's communities department; Laura Marks, the founder of Mitzvah Day; Joseph Seelig, the founder of the London International Mime Festival and Peter Truesdale, former councillor at Lambeth Council.
