Queen Victoria and Sir Winston Churchill were among some of the iconic Brits to be given the ‘Clean British Energy’ (CBE) medals in a new campaign yesterday.

The red, white and blue medals were given as part of a campaign by green group Friends of the Earth and renewable energy supplier Good Energy to call on the Prime Minister to cut carbon emissions and create new jobs and industries.

Friends of the Earth’s Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said: “The people who have received medals today played a part in making Britain great and David Cameron has a chance to do the same – his Energy Bill should switch the country to clean British energy and put our country at the forefront of this new industrial revolution.”

The medals were given to various pioneering industrialists, science and sporting legends, political figures, cultural icons and folk heroes.