New Year's honours for trio of Teessiders

PLAYWRIGHT, COUNCILLOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF FOOD CHARITY ARE RECOGNISED

- By SUE KIRBY

A TRIO of hardworking Teessiders have been recognised in the King's New Year's Honours list 2026.

Playwright Ishy Din and Councillor Lynn Pallister have been given the MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, and Debra Fixter has been awarded the BEM, British Empire Medal.

Ishy Din is a playwright and screenwriter and has been awarded the MBE for services to the arts and young people in the North East.

The former Boro taxi driver wrote his first play in 2004 when he heard about a writing competition on the radio.

He went on to become an established and award-winning writer. Ishy is known for his narratives that reflect his upbringing on Teesside.

His plays have graced stages across the country, earning him critical acclaim and prestigious commissions from the National Theatre and the RSC, solidifying his status as a prominent voice in contemporary theatre.