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Journalists recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

A former regional daily sports reporter who is now an journalism lecturer in China is among current and former regional press journalists recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Matthew Horn worked for the Lancashire Telegraph as a reporter covering Burnley Football Club before moving into journalism lecturing for the University of Central Lancashire.

He now lives in China teaching international journalism at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies on behalf of UCLan and has been awarded an MBE for services to the development of journalism and to charitable work in China.

Matthew is one of four serving or former journalists to be recognised in the list, which is released to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

He told the Telegraph: “I feel really delighted and I never thought I would get this in a million years.

“I have always loved journalism and being able to teach future journalists and then see them start their careers in the real world makes it all worthwhile and am really grateful to UCLan and Guangdong University for their support.”

Scottish journalist and author Allan Massie, who has written nearly 30 books, has also been recognised in the honours list, receiving a CBE for services to literature.

He is a regular columnist for The Scotsman, as a fiction reviewer and writer about rugby union and cricket, while also writing for The Sunday Times in Scotland and the Scottish Daily Mail.

Also honoured is former sports editor Michael Talbot-Butler who worked for the Guardian series in Cheshire, which includes the Middlewich Guardian, Northwich Guardian and Knutsford Guardian, for nearly 40 years until his retirement in 1994.

He is awarded a British Empire Medal for services to cricket administration in Cheshire for his work with Cheshire County Cricket League, which he set up nearly 40 years ago.

His duties as competition and press secretary include writing a weekly newsletter during the season which is sent out to journalists.

Former Batley News journalist Malcolm Haigh has also been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Batley, West Yorkshire.

He is a keen historian, writing four local history books, and a member of several community groups, including Batley Civic Society, Batley History Group and Batley Cemetery Support Group.

Malcolm told the News: “I’m really pleased, but especially for all the people who work with me in these community groups and for all the great work that they’ve done.”

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  • June 17, 2013 at 2:09 pm
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    Congrats to Mike Talbot-Butler – MTB – on his BEM. I have to say the award is long overdue but better late than never.

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  • June 18, 2013 at 11:25 am
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    Well-deserved award for MTB. I worked with this true gentleman of the Press in the 70s and 80s.

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