HELPING preserve more than 1,500 privately-owned historic homes across Britain for over a decade has earned Charlbury man Nick Way an OBE.

The former director general of the Historic Houses Association was awarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to the conservation of the UK's architectural heritage".

And despite stepping down from his role with the HHA in November after ten years, the 60-year-old is still working.

Oxford Mail:

The father-of-three, who has lived with his wife Sue in Charlbury for 24 years, and is on the board of the English Rural Housing Association, which provides affordable homes in villages across the south east said: "I was surprised to receive the honour because normally you don't receive one for doing your job to the best of your ability."

Mr Way said his proudest achievement with the HHA had been helping families who happened to live in historic homes which require costly upkeep to access funds to enable them to keep living there, often while opening parts of their house to the public.

Among the association's member houses in Oxfordshire are Broughton Castle near Banbury, Stonor Park near Wallingford, Kelmscott Manor near Faringdon and, most famous of all, Blenheim Palace.

He was one of several people from the county recognised in the Queen's birthday honours on Saturday.

Entrepreneur Bryan Morton from Oxford who was given a CBE for his services to the healthcare industry.

The executive chairman of EUSA Pharma and Syncona board member has helped develop life-changing treatments for people with sight condition Glaucoma and leukaemia, cancer of the white blood cells, in children.

The father-of-two said: "This is an amazing recognition of that work and should be shared with all the colleagues I have worked with over the years and across the world."

Professor Maggie Snowling, president of St John's College in Oxford, was given a CBE for her services to science and the understanding of dyslexia.

With her husband Professor Charles Hulme, the 60-year-old researcher she has spent years examining the causes of dyslexia in children.

Grandmother-of-nine Prof Snowling said: "I am excited and delighted to be honoured, it is amazing."

Over the past few years Prof Snowling and her colleagues have sought to develop schemes to help children with dyslexia improve reading and speaking skills.

She added: "Dyslexia is a life-long condition but you can find ways around it."

To find out who else received honours go to our website.