Former Morecambe director receives an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List
A former Morecambe director was among those to receive recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Former Morecambe director Charlie Appleyard has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Appleyard was awarded an MBE for services to people with Parkinson’s and fundraising.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016, aged 39, before going on to co-found Sport Parkinson’s four years later.
The organisation aims to enable those living with Parkinson’s to stay active through sport and exercise.
A post on the Sport Parkinson’s Facebook page said: “While this recognition was never the reason Charlie founded Sport Parkinson’s his vision has always been to create more opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to be active, connected and supported through sport and exercise.
“Charlie is deeply humbled to receive this honour and shares it with the entire Parkinson’s community, whose determination and inspiration continue to drive our work.
“Congratulations, Charlie and thank you for your unwavering commitment to improving lives of those in our community.”
Appleyard also posted on Facebook, adding: “Heard about this unbelievable honour only four weeks ago.
“Absolutely blown away by the whole thing, mostly for of the love and support from the many many people who have congratulated me and sent lovely messages.
“The timing of this coincides with my 10th Parkyversary. I got my diagnosis on 7/6/16.
“So much has happened since then and despite the horrific experience of living with PD, I have more than made up for it with the things I have worked on to help improve things for myself and others whilst having as much fun as possible.”
A lifelong Morecambe supporter, Appleyard joined the club’s board of directors in December 2019.
He was on the board for five-and-a-half years, most notably during the turbulent summer of 2025 when Panjab Warriors eventually completed their buyout of the club from the previous owner, Bond Group.
Appleyard also co-founded Annapurna Recruitment, which was the club’s front of shirt sponsor when it won promotion to League One in the 2020/21 season.