Oxford's Pegasus Theatre starts the year with a bang as its Artistic Director and Chief Executive of 17 years has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year's Honours list.

Euton Daley has steered the youth and community arts programme at Pegasus Theatre since 1990 and has seen the organisation flourish. Membership of Oxford Youth Theatre, possibly the oldest youth theatre in the country, has risen to up to 350 young people a year working with professional artists and companies creating new work for performance.

Under his directorship the theatre has also become one of the city's key venues for dance and physical theatre in recent years with new work showcased annually, youth dance groups have been developed and resident dance companies supported. Pegasus has also played a major role in the founding of the now annual Dancin' Oxford festival, which this year opens at Pegasus with 'H' Patten in The Cotton Tree Project at the theatre on 8th & 9th February.

Of the award Euton comments "This recognition is dedicated to the young people and artists who have passed through Oxford Youth Theatre. I feel this honour belongs to them. So many reach way beyond their own or other's expectations of them. We are so proud of them and what they have managed to achieve."

Recognition of the work that Euton Daley has accomplished over the years through Pegasus and Oxford Youth Theatre gives the organisation a well-earned boost. Euton and staff are currently campaigning to raise the final £1.7 million towards a £6.3 million redevelopment project on their site to replace the delapidated temporary post war buildings that have been in constant use by them since 1962.