31st December 2016. Olympian Dr Katherine Grainger becomes a Dame in the New Years honours list. Katherine, who is a patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, is appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport and charity.

 She is Britain's most decorated female Olympic athlete and the first female Olympian to win five medals at five Games, winning Olympic silver at Rio 2016 and gold at London 2012, adding to her silver medals from Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

 Rower Katherine Grainger said becoming a Dame was ‘magical’ and would be something to live up to. “I’m still very stunned – it will take a while to sink in I think. It’s an incredible honour”