A woman pilot from Oxfordshire, who made international headlines with a record-breaking solo flight around the world, tops an impressive list of people from across the county who have been honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Polly Vacher, from Drayton, near Abingdon, was 56 when she embarked on a journey of a lifetime in January last year, after only four years as a qualified pilot. She has been awarded the MBE.

Also receiving an MBE is veteran youth worker John Kempson.

He has been honoured for his services to Wolvercote Young People's Club.

Another voluntary worker, Barbara Chadwick, received the MBE for her services to the country branch of the Disabled Drivers' Association.

At the controls of her single-engined Piper Dakota, Polly Vacher's epic flight took her 29,000 miles across 17 countries in 47 stages. The longest was a 17-hour crossing of the Pacific from Hawaii to California.

Two months after returning from her four-month adventure, she gave £160,000 to the RIAT Flying for the Disabled charity.

Of her flight, she said: "It was terrifying at times, but well worth it. Above all this, I had the overwhelming knowledge that I was being guarded by a much greater power."

Mr Kempson, who retired earlier this month after 33 years in charge of the Wolvercote club, has helped it flourish while many other youth organisations have collapsed through lack of money and youth crime.

His legacy will remain in the memories of thousands who have passed through the club's doors.

The former Royal Navy PT instructor said the club's success was due to its two driving philosophies: giving young people new experiences and a belief in firm but fair discipline.

He said: "Youth work is not just about playing snooker or football, but about personal and social development.

"We let the kids make decisions about how the money here is spent. We treat them all equally and as individuals, which helps them develop important life skills."

Ruth Deech was made a dame for services to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

She is chairman of the authority.

The Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr Colin Lucas, received a knighthood from the Queen.

Dr Lucas -- the most senior member of staff at the university -- received the honour for services to higher education.

Professor Lucas, an historian and expert on the French Revolution, became Vice Chancellor in 1995. He was an undergraduate and postgraduate at Lincoln College before becoming a fellow and tutor in modern history at Balliol College in 1973. He previously held the post of Professor of History and Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago.

Also receiving an award in the honours is Sir Michael Howard, Emeritus Professor of History at Oxford University, who received a Companion of Honour for services to military studies.

Prof Dudley Goodhead has been given an OBE for his Oxfordshire-based medical research.

As director of the Medical Research Council's Radiation and Genome Stability Unit, Prof Goodhead studies the links between radiation and how it can change and affect human genes.

Stewart Wallis, 54, the international director of Oxfam, was given an OBE.

Kato Havas, 81, of Victoria Road, Oxford has been given the OBE for services to music. Mrs Havas was born in Hungary and was a child prodigy at playing the violin -- by the age of 18 she was performing solo concerts in New York.

Joanna Foster, who was appointed chairman of Oxford's Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre last year, has been given an OBE for her services to the world of work and equal opportunities.

Ms Foster, of Islip, has chaired the equal opportunities commission for nearly six years and is a member of the Government's Ministerial Advisory Committee on Work-Home Balance.

Sue Beuzeval, 58, of Upland Park Road, Oxford, was given an MBE for her decade of work for Oxfam.

Annette Mountford was named for the award for her work with Family Links, an Oxford-based charity, which she jointly founded in 1997 to teach the Nurturing Programme, which was originally developed in the USA.

A man who has a 45-year link with the RAF has also been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours.

Warrant Officer Frank Thorington, now 61, is a reservist with the 4624 County of Oxford Movements Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton.

The unit is part of the Auxiliary Air Force and he received his award in recognition of his dedication and concern for the squadron members and their dependants.

Brian Martin, a retired senior master at Magdalen College School, Oxford, receives an MBE for services to English language and literature.

Also invested with the MBE, are William Alden of Bicester, for services to vocational education and training; Major Leslie Fagg, of Fringford near Bicester, a retired Ministry of Defence officer; Nick Hance, of Wantage, public relations manager at UKAEA, Harwell, for services to training in the nuclear industry; Mavid Pottinger, health care assistant of Oxford, for services to patient care in Oxfordshire and Julie Twynam of Faringdon, for services to the board of visitors at HMP Bullingdon near Bicester.