New Year’s Honours: Whitworth man receives MBE for services to vulnerable during Covid-19 response Date published: 31 December 2020 Richard Sercombe, 48, of Whitworth, has received an MBE for his services to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 response A Whitworth man has been named in this year’s New Year’s honours list for his services to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 response, whilst celebrated actress Sheila Hancock has been made a Dame for her services to drama and charity. Richard Sercombe, 48, of Whitworth, has received an MBE for his services to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 response. Mr Sercombe, a data technologist at Brakes, has been at the heart of delivering the government scheme to provide 450,000 food parcels a week to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals during the Covid-19 crisis.