Bank of Dave star's touching reaction to OBE

Entrepreneur Dave Fishwick, who inspired Netflix's Bank of Dave film, has hailed self-belief and determination as key to his success as he has been awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Fishwick made his fortune supplying minibuses before opening an independent lending company to support people following the 2008 financial crash.

The 55-year-old businessman-turned-philanthropist said: "It's just wonderful that His Majesty the King has spent some time looking at what we've been doing and seen fit to award us an OBE.

"It's just unbelievable. And from a lad from Burnley, who set off with absolutely no qualifications whatsoever – I left school at 16, absolutely useless."

He received his OBE for services to finance, business and to charity.

Fishwick founded Burnley Saving and Loans in 2011 and the story of its success and Fishwick's investigations into loan sharks were adapted for 2023's Bank of Dave, starring Rory Kinnear, and its sequel Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger, released in 2025.

"If Dave from Burnley with absolutely nothing can make it happen, then you can too," he said.

"So it's really important that we get the message out that if you put your mind to it, self-belief, determination."

The profits from Burnley Savings and Loans, which has the slogan "Bank on Dave", go to good causes, often in Lancashire.

Fishwick credits his "right-hand man" David Henshaw, his wife Nicky and the team behind Bank of Dave for his continued success as he takes on new projects, including becoming the ambassador for 6,000 community banks in the US.

Asked what is next for him, Fishwick said he would like to continue his campaigning and sharing advice about money.

He has also said he was invited to take part in Strictly Come Dancing – but admitted he cannot dance.

"I've been offered the jungle [I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!] and lots of other things, but that's not something I'd want to do," he said.

"But the dancing, I'm thinking maybe next time, because that just sounds fun, doesn't it?"

Also in Lancashire, Sara Jane Barr-Frost from Preston, has been awarded an MBE for services to the NHS.

A paediatric nurse with nearly 30 years of experience, she developed the UK's first nurse-led rapid response service for sudden unexpected death in childhood which became a national blueprint.

Terry Woods, the former Lancashire Deputy Chief Constable who headed up Lancashire's response to the covid pandemic has been awarded the CBE to add to the Queen's Police Medal he received in 2021.

And Laszlo Robert Fossett Endresz - also known as Mooky the clown - gets a BEM.

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