Child, Trollope and Hely Hutchinson named in Queen's Birthday Honours

Authors Lee Child and Joanna Trollope have been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours with former Hachette UK c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson also recognised. 

Child and Trollope, who already has an OBE, were both made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire and awarded CBEs for their services to literature. Child was named Author of the Year, at this year's Nibbies. Last year, Child published his 23rd Jack Reacher novel—Past Tense (Transworld)—with number 24 due later this year. In 2015 Child was worth £5.5m through Nielsen's UK Total Consumer Market, and in 2018 that had grown to £7.8m, a 42% increase. 

Hely Hutchinson was made CBE for his services to publishing and literature. Hely Hutchinson retired in 2017 after first leading Hachette when it was set up in 2004. He was awarded the Légion d’Honneur for his promotion of Anglo-French relations, earlier this year. 

Journalist and author Bryan Appleyard was also awarded a CBE for his services to journalism and the arts. Elsewhere authors Theresa Breslin and Sarah Waters were awarded an OBE for their services to literature. Historian and author Bettany Hughes was awarded an OBE for her services to history. Earlier this year Hughes chaired the judging panel for the Man Booker International Prize. 

Anne Sarrag, head of children's reading at The Reading Agency, and Anne Barclay, the director of the Wigtown Book Festival, have also been awarded MBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Sarrag has been awarded an MBE for her work championing children's books and reading over the last 30 years, beginning with running the Book Bus initiative, a children’s mobile bookshop and literacy charity in London. She co-founded LaunchPad in 1999, a charity working with library services to promote the value of libraries for children through marketing, advocacy and research and started the first Summer Reading Challenge in the same year, which is the UK’s biggest free activity to help prevent the summer reading gap for children aged 4-11. 

Reacting to the news, Sarrag said: "Delivering the challenge is a national team effort; I might be the catalyst behind it but it’s the enthusiasm, dedication and investment from the national network of library services that enable it to run and develop. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Challenge and we recently conducted a review of the scheme which evidenced both the impact of the Challenge and the strong sector support it has as a national programme, locally delivered and tailored to meet local needs. All those interviewed for the Review, including teachers, discussed their belief in the programme, the impact of participation on children’s enjoyment of reading and reading skills, and a strong commitment to maintaining its reach and impact in challenging financial times. They are ambitious for the Challenge - they want it to remain creative and sustainable for future generations. This is a great endorsement and we’re working to deliver the recommendations."

Barclay, who is also a Cancer Research UK fundraiser, has been honoured for her contribution to charity and the arts. As operational director of the Wigtown Festival Company she is central to the annual 10-day event, which attracts authors and visitors from all Scotland, and which has fuelled the economic regeneration of the area.

Adrian Turpin, Wigtown Book Festival’s artistic director, said: “Anne is an inspirational figure, whether in her work with the festival and young people or the endless hours she has put into raising money and awareness for Relay For Life. She really does place public service at the centre of her life and this award couldn't be more deserved. It's a privilege to work with her.”

Barclay said: “I'm quite overwhelmed at the news of the honour. I feel really privileged to have grown up within an incredible community, with the most supportive family, friends and colleagues who have offered constant inspiration and encouragement. I have always felt passionately about giving back to the community that afforded me such a fantastic childhood and the opportunity to work for Wigtown Festival Company, with such a dedicated staff and volunteer team, really is a dream job. My role on the Dumfries and Galloway Relay For Life Committee is really as the spokesperson for the event - everyone else does the hard work of fundraising, planning and making it happen, I just talk a lot.”