New Year Honours 2014: Two Margaret Thatcher aides knighted Mark Worthington, who was Baroness Thatcher's private secretary, and Julian Seymour, the former director to her private office, are awarded knighthoods. Paying tribute to Lady Thatcher in the House of Lords, following her death, he said of Sir Mark: "He did a brilliant job and sometimes dealt with very difficult issues which came up from time to time." Sir Mark was previously made an MBE in 2004 while Mr Seymour was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) three years earlier, in 2001. His support continued after ill-health curtailed her activities and he played a key role in helping to make arrangements for her funeral. Sir Julian worked for Lady Thatcher between 1991 and 2000, a role he juggled alongside his non-executive directorship for Chime Communications, an international communications and sports marketing group, where he worked with Lord Bell, who as Tim Bell was Lady Thatcher's PR adviser in office. Sir Julian was responsible for overseeing all aspects of Lady Thatcher" life in the years after she left office, including helping to establish the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, administering her financial affairs and acting as executor of her will. Sir Julian also played a significant part in helping to organise her funeral.