Infamous children’s author Dick King-Smith has been awarded an OBE. After serving and being injured in World War II, King-Smith took up writing (after a 20 year stint as a farmer), and has since penned over 100 books – including The Sheep-Pig which was adapted for screen in 1995 as Babe. Other more famous works include Harry’s Mad and The Water Horse which was also adapted for film.  

The OBE is awarded for a distinguished regional or country-wide role in any field, to anyone who has served the community and may include practitioners known nationally, including teachers, nurses, scientists and broadcasters. Like most British awards, the many New Year’s Honours awards are a means for recognising merit, gallantry and service.  

Mr King-Smith’s OBE award was not the only New Year’s Honour by an author as Lauren Child of Charlie and Lola fame, was awarded an MBE. Her first books were published in 1999 and she has since then sold over 3 million copies of her children’s fiction.  

Anthea Bell, co-translator of Le Petit Nicholas and the Astrix series was also awarded an OBE, as did health writer and broadcaster Dr. Miriam Stoppard (72) – who has written over 50 books and an agony aunt column.