Area's great and good recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours

An energy agency director, a cancer support worker and a police chief were among the great and the good in Shropshire and Mid Wales being recognised today in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

A host of people in the region were celebrating making their way onto the prestigious honours list after they were nominated by either friends or work colleagues for their outstanding contribution to society.

They included former police chief Robin Oake who received an honour for voluntary service to the Order of St John in England.

The 73-year-old, of Bicton, near Shrewsbury, is the father of Detective Constable Stephen Oake, who was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest an al-Qaeda suspect in 2003.

He today said: "I haven't looked for anyone to pat me on the back at all and I would like to say that I am receiving something on behalf of other people, all of whom deserve this more than I do."

One community stalwart from the Shropshire/Welsh border said he heard about his MBE while in hospital.

John Bryan Foulkes, of Four Crosses, was given the honour for services to the community in Powys.

Mr Foulkes, 75, said: "I was feeling a bit rough and being told I was to get the award was a great boost."

Also among those to receive the MBE was Richard Davies, director of charity Marches Energy Agency in Shrewsbury.

The 46-year-old received the honour for services to sustainable energy.

Maxine Pittaway, of Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, who is the headteacher at St Christopher's School in Wrexham, received the MBE for services to special educational needs.

Others to receive the MBE included Michael Sommers, of Shrewsbury, for public service, and Delyth Humfryes, chairman of the Dyfed-Powys Police Authority, for services to the community in west Wales.

Janet Mary Williams, 62, from Llanidloes, was awarded the MBE for her charitable services to breast cancer patients throughout Powys.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 33, Mrs Williams has run the Breast of Friends support group in Llanidloes for more than 19 years.

Judith Webb, from Dulas, south Shropshire, was awarded an MBE for her work with the Forestry Commission Wales, and campaigner Margaret Kerr, 65, of Whittington, said she was "totally stunned" to be nominated for an MBE for her services to healthcare and to the community of Oswestry.

Telford police Sergeant Louis Hylton, who has spent 23 years making the neighbourhood he serves a safer place, has been made an MBE for services to policing and the community.

Also honoured with an MBE was Amanda Poulson, of Walsall, who works at Revenue and Customs in Telford, and Shropshire magistrate Harold Wardle, of Fenns Bank, near Whitchurch, gained an OBE for services to the community in Shropshire.

And Christopher Anthony Woodhead, who formerly held senior education positions in Shropshire, has received the Knights Batchelor award for services to education.