Manchester’s first openly-gay former Mayor, avid campaigner and community activist, and current LGBTQ+ advisor Carl-Austin Behan was among those honoured at Windsor Castle yesterday.
While all eyes and headlines were on one Mancunian – 24-year-old Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford, who was finally presented with his MBE yesterday in recognition for his highly-publicised work to tackle child food poverty in the UK – another prominent and important Greater Manchester figure was also recognised at the long-awaited ceremony at Windsor Castle yesterday.
Carl-Austin was presented with an OBE by Prince William The Duke of Cambridge for his ongoing services to the Greater Manchester community.
Following the ceremony yesterday, Kensington Royal took to social media to share Carl-Austin’s achievements that have led to him being awarded the prestigious honour, explaining that: “Every year, inspiring people from across the UK are recognised for their outstanding achievements [and] one person who received his OBE today was Carl-Austin Behan, recognising his incredible work for charity and the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Manchester, where he has helped raise money for numerous worthy causes and spearheaded work promoting equality and inclusion in the public and private sectors.
“He has played an active role in his community, including through his 14 years in the Boys’ Brigade as a youngster, voluntary roles in later life include supporting the Northern Air Hospital Radio and Gaydio, an LGBT radio station.
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“He’s completed two charity treks in Malawi, raising over 100,000 for children with HIV, and a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2013 raised £25,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, a charity he regularly supports.”
He’s an active role in his community, including through his 14 years in the Boys’ Brigade as a youngster, and voluntary roles later supporting the Northern Air Hospital Radio & Gaydio, an LGBT radio station.
He’s also completed two charity treks in raising over 125,000 charity.
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) November 9, 2021
Carl-Austin also took to social media to share pictures from the day.
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“Feeling proud, honoured and humbled to spend a morning at Windsor Castle to receive my OBE along with many other deserving recipients, which was the first one since before COVID restrictions,” he said in a post on Twitter and Instagram.
He also later thanked “all those who made this happen, who supported, believed, and trusted in me, over many years”, adding that it was “very much a team effort.”
“Especially my family, friends, and loved ones, who have all been part of this amazing journey,” he concluded.
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Feeling proud, honoured & humbled to spend a morning at Windsor Castle to receive my OBE along with many other deserving recipients, which was @KensingtonRoyal 1st one since before Covid Restrictions, managed to get back in time to show Willow, whilst still at @KidzRUs2010 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤️ pic.twitter.com/BKN4j92Acv
— Dr Carl Austin-Behan OBE “Ozzy” 💙 (@CarlAustinBehan) November 9, 2021
Carl-Austin Behan was born in north Manchester and grew up in Crumpsall.
He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1991 when he was 19 years old, and had a busy career that included saving a fellow pilot from a burning aircraft, which subsequently saw him commended for his actions in the Queen’s Honours list of 1991 – but was discharged in 1997 for being gay at a time when it was illegal to be openly gay in the RAF.
After leaving the RAF, he began a career in politics, and was elected to Manchester City Council as Labour Member for Burnage ward in May 2011, and then in 2016-2017, was made Lord Mayor of Manchester – becoming the city’s first openly-gay Lord Mayor and one of its youngest at 44.
He also took voluntary roles in later life that include supporting the Northern Air Hospital Radio, and LGBT radio station Gaydio, as well as continuing to work in promoting equality and inclusion in the public and private sectors, and has raised significant sums of money for charities important to him.
Mr Behan is now currently the deputy lord lieutenant of Greater Manchester, trustee of the LGBT+ veterans’ charity Fighting With Pride, president of the CONTACT theatre in Manchester, and acts as the LGBTQ+ advisor to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
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He deservedly made headlines earlier in February this year when he was finally able to reclaim the military medals taken from him after he was dismissed from the RAF.
The MoD said at the time that it wanted to address a “historical wrong”.
Man pleads guilty to ‘preparing for acts of terrorism’ in relation to Manchester synagogue attack
Emily Sergeant
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road in Cheetham Hill, appeared at the Central Criminal Court last week (Friday 5 June 2026) and pleaded guilty to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2006.
The prosecution will consider the basis of the guilty plea, and now a two-day sentencing hearing has been set for 22-23 July 2026 at Manchester Crown Court.
In case you need a reminder, the shocking knife and car attack took place on 2 October 2025 on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar – at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
During the incident, two men sadly lost their lives during the attack – Adrian Daulby, 53, who was shot dead by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while trying to stop the attacker from entering the synagogue, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper who also helped stop the attacker.
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism / Credit: Google Maps | GMP
The attacker was named as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who lived in Prestwich – who at the time was on bail for an alleged rape, before being shot dead by police.
Following the terrorist attack, enquiries conducted by detectives identified Bashir as an associate of Jihad Al-Shamie, and established that the two of them had conducted ;hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility’ on 14 August 2025.
The pair were seen on CCTV prior to the trip discussing criteria for potential targets to attack.
They were then seen on ANPR cameras making the journey to the site – with Bashir acting as the driver for most of the journey.
He is due to be sentenced next month / Credit: GMP
Speaking following Bashir’s guilty plea, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts – who holds operational responsibility for Counter Terrorism Policing North West – commented: “Our comprehensive enquiries led to the offending of Mohammed Bashir coming to light.
“Although not directly linked to the synagogue attack, the fact he conducted hostile reconnaissance alongside a man who would later commit a terrorist attack show the seriousness of his actions.
“We welcome today’s guilty plea and look ahead to the sentencing which is due to take place in July.
“This case will understandably prompt public commentary about the terrorist attack that took place last October. My thoughts today are with all those affected, particularly the loved ones of those whose lives were taken and those who were seriously injured.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2021 
