Pride of the nation (From Oxford Mail)

Pride of the nation

12:00am Saturday 30th December 2006

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MAUREEN TWENEY, MBE Maureen Tweney was struggling for weeks to keep secret the news she was to be honoured with an MBE in recognition of her 49 years' volunteer work. The mother-of-two, with three grandchildren, has devoted almost half a century to helping the Scouts, the Oxford Gang Show, the Narrowboat Trust, St John's Ambulance and playgroups, and holding a regular tea dance at Oxford Town Hall.

Her MBE was awarded for services to the community.

The 67-year-old, of Colly Wood, Kennington, said: "When I got the letter it said from the Prime Minister's Office. I thought, 'What have I done, have I been caught speeding?' Then I opened it and couldn't believe it. "I eventually told my children and we all started to cry. I couldn't sleep last night because I knew I was going to see them and I could tell them at last. I am really honoured that someone took the trouble to write a letter about me." DAVID MCWHIRTER, Queen's Police Medal Mr McWhirter, who retired from Thames Valley Police in September, has been awarded the medal for distinguished service during his 30 years as a police officer in the region.

He was Head of Control Rooms and Head of Crime Support, and was an acting Assistant Chief Constable before becoming Area Commander for Oxford in 2000. When the force was restructured in 2004, he was appointed Oxfordshire commander.

DR FARHAN NIZAMI, CBE Dr Nizami, 50, founded the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in 1985 with Dr David Browning. A Fellow of Magdalen College, Dr Nizami has been recognised for his services to Islamic studies at the centre, which encourages the study of the religion and the Islamic world.

HUGH LAURIE, OBE The actor, comedian and writer, who was born in Oxford and whose father was a GP in Blackbird Leys for 30 years, gets an OBE. He is best-known for his TV comedy work, especially with Stephen Fry, including A Bit Of Fry And Laurie and Blackadder.

He recently became a star in the US in the TV hit show House.

MARGARET HUGHES, MBE The former banker received her MBE for services to the community after 27 years of loyal service for the League of Friends.

Miss Hughes, 71, of Henley Avenue, east Oxford, is a founder member of the League of Friends tea bar and shop at the Churchill Hospital, launched in 1979.

PATRICK WIXEY, MBE The conservation volunteer, 65, of Orchard Way, Witney, has been rewarded for helping dramatically improve the numbers of barn owls in west Oxfordshire by building nest boxes. Since 1986, the numbers of barn owls he has tagged rose from just four pairs to 134 chicks and 40 pairs this year.

MARY GIBSON, MBE Mrs Gibson has received an MBE for services to the Bomber Command Association.

The 86-year-old widow was a member of the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) between 1941 and 1946, repairing planes at Magdalen College, Oxford. After retiring in 1993 from the NHS she set up the Thames Valley Bomber Command Association branch and has held 44 lunches, visited 25 schools giving talks about the sacrifices made by RAF pilots and raised about £10,000.

PETER LUND, MBE The retired engineering lecturer is organiser of the Best Kept Village competition for Oxfordshire Rural Community Council.

The 81-year-old, from Binsey near Oxford, has four children and nine grandchildren. He said: "Like many of these things the honour really belongs to other people and I seem to be the lucky one who had his name put forward."

Other Oxfordshire people receiving honours: Michael Rake, chairman of KPMG International at Henley, becomes a Knights Bachelor for services to the accountancy profession.

Prof Doreen McBarnet, professor of Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford, CBE for services to social science.

Prof Stephen Nickell, formerly member of the Monetary Policy Committee and warden of Nuffield College, Oxford, CBE for services to economics.

Sarah Spencer, chair of the Equality and Diversity Forum and associate director, COMPAS, University of Oxford, CBE for services to equal opportunities and human rights.

Dr Patrick Upson, managing director of Enrichment Technology Company Ltd, Henley, CBE for services to industry.

Lady Brigid Crofton, of Oxford and formerly trustee and vice-chairman, UNICEF UK, OBE for services to children and families overseas.

Huw Evans, former headteacher at Watchfield Primary School, OBE for services to education.

Prof Geoffrey Meen, of Abingdon, professor of Applied Economics, University of Reading, OBE for services to social housing.

Robert Thompson, of Bicester, director of fundraising, Royal British Legion, OBE for services to ex-servicemen and women.

Guy Woolfenden, composer and conductor from Banbury, OBE for services to music.

Violet Miles. MBE for services to the community in Milton-under-Wychwood.

Peter Ogles, MBE for services to the Royal Mail and to St John Ambulance in Chipping Norton.

George Parker, MBE for services to the community in Barford St Michael, near Banbury.

Anne Waters, of Deddington, watch manager, RDS, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, MBE for services to fire safety.

Rock star Rod Stewart and sporting heroes Zara Phillips and Ian Woosnam are also among the people honoured by the Queen today. The veteran singer, who gets a CBE, is joined in the list by Coronation Street stalwart Johnny Briggs, rewarded with an MBE. He retired from the soap earlier this year, having played dodgy businessman Mike Baldwin for three decades. Zara Phillips, recently voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, is the first senior royal to be honoured - she will receive an MBE for services to equestrianism from her grandmother, the Queen. Also in the world of sport, there is an OBE for golfer Ian Woosnam, and MBEs for footballer Steven Gerrard and boxer Ricky Hatton. Welsh rugby legend Gareth Edwards becomes a CBE, while David Davies, formerly executive director of the Football Association, gets an OBE. Footballer Faye White, captain of the England ladies team, becomes an MBE. Among the knighthoods is the inventor James Dyson, who revolutionised the vacuum cleaner, and George Shearing, the blind jazz pianist. In the world of journalism, Ann Leslie, the globe-trotting Daily Mail reporter, becomes a Dame. There are awards too for gardening expert David Hessayon and Alexander McCall Smith, writer of the best-selling The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. There is a CBE for Penelope Keith, one of the most popular actresses of her generation, famous for her portrayal of upper-crust, aristocratic characters in TV series The Good Life and To The Manor Born. Yachtsman Michael Golding, who turned back 80 miles to rescue a rival in the recent solo Five Oceans round-the-world race, gets an OBE.

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