By Caitlin Pike
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, who was left paralysed
after being shot by militants in Saudi Arabia, has been appointed OBE
in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Gardner dedicated the honour to cameraman Simon Cumbers, who died in
the shooting. He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with this award. After
a very tough year for me and my family, this is at last a bit of good
news.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised too for the work I put in
prior to being shot last year in trying to explain the whole global
security issue to our audiences and trying to put a lot of the
hyperbole into some sort of perspective.
“I should also say this medal goes to my cameraman Simon Cumbers, too.
He
was with me in Riyadh. Simon lost his life committing himself to
journalism… bringing an important story to the public and I think we
should remember him.”
Gardner returned to work at the BBC in
April, 10 months after being shot. He has been BBC security
correspondent since 2002 – the only UK television journalist dedicated
to reporting on the war on terror full time.
Other figures from
the broadcasting industry to be honoured include Fiona Ross, who was
appointed OBE for services to journalism in Scotland.
Ross has worked as a broadcast journalist for 30 years, including working as political editor for Scottish Television.
Jocelyn
Hay, MBE, chairman and founder of campaigning organisation Voice of the
Listener and Viewer, has been appointed CBE for services to
broadcasting. The longest-serving member of Match of the Day,
statistician Albert Sewell, was appointed MBE for his services to the
game.
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