MORE than a dozen people from across the county have been honoured in celebration of the Queen’s birthday.

In her Diamond Jubilee year, 17 have been recognised for the service they have given to everything from widows to brass bands.

Among them is Joyce Howe, of Jericho. The 94-year-old is honoured with an MBE for her services to the National Association of Widows.

She married Bill Howe the day before Britain declared war in 1939, and was devastated when he died from a cerebral haemorrhage aged 58.

Mrs Howe said: “I was completely lost, I didn’t know how to turn my life around, I didn’t know what to do, I wasn’t young or old.

“I found two telephone numbers and I rang them and found the association.

“It completely altered my life, it was absolutely fantastic, it has given me an independent life.”

Former engineer Raymond Hewett is honoured for his work with the Roke and Benson Brass Band.

The 81-year-old has been a part of the group since he moved to the area in 1964.

He oversaw the building of a £125,000 new practice hall next to his home in Roke in 2001.

The great-grandfather is a trustee of the band now, but has been conductor, secretary, treasurer, bandmaster, and chairman.

He said: “It becomes your way of life.”

He said he was honoured to get a British Empire Medal.

A former GP who campaigned to save water meadows in Dorchester has been given a British Empire Medal.

Dr Peter Pritchard, 94, helped set up The Hurst Water Meadow Trust in 1995, which manages two water meadows along the River Thames.

He said: “I am delighted to have been given this honour but it is not just me who should be recognised, but the whole team. There were 10 trustees who played their part.”

Dr Pritchard moved to Dorchester in 1951 where he worked as a GP and, in 1970, helped set up the Berinsfield Health Centre.

A mum who used the experience of losing her infant daughter to help bereaved parents and war widows has been awarded an MBE.

Angela Perry raised cash for an infant death charity after losing Victoria in 1982 to cot death aged five months.

She was then asked to raise cash in the 1990s for a Berkshire chapel to honour the fallen from the Falklands War.

The 63-year-old from Wroxton, near Banbury, said: “The fact that I knew the meaning of bereavement has helped me hugely.”

She said of her honour: “I am completely and utterly amazed. I’m delighted.”

Staff at a primary school near Wallingford are celebrating after teaching assistant Penny Hannigan was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Mother-of-two Mrs Hannigan, 64, has been a teaching assistant at Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School for the past 25 years and received the award for services to education.

The grandmother-of-five, who lives in Crowmarsh Gifford with husband Peter, 63, said: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“I came here after my two children, Mark and Kate, were pupils at the school and the time has flown by.

“I like to see the pupils blossom and become independent learners before they leave.”

Also awarded the British Empire Medal, for services to the community is Carole Dennis, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.

She was a parish councillor on Brightwell-cum-Sotwell parish council for 37 years until she retired as chairman last year.

The pensioner, who is a mother-of-three and has two grandchildren, lives in the village with husband Terry, 79.

She said: “I’m delighted to be recognised in this way and I regard it as a gesture to the community and the other parish councillors I worked with over the years.”

Frances Cook, of Chinnor Hill, near Thame, becomes an MBE for services to speech therapy.

Ms Cook, 63, has been a speech therapist since 1973, and retired from her role at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, in central London, earlier this year.

The mother-of-two said: “I’m so thrilled and excited about it. It’s a great award.”

Long-standing Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry is made a Knight of the Realm.

The Conservative for Banbury has been recognised for public and political service.

An MP since 1983, Mr Baldry has held ministerial posts since 1990 including agriculture, energy, foreign and housing issues.

The 61-year-old said: “I am very proud to have been made a knight, particularly in the Birthday Honours of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.”

Academics and entrepreneurs were also recognised.

Prof Lorna Casselton, Emeritus Professor of Fungal Genetics at the University of Oxford, was awarded a CBE for her services to research, but also for her role as vice-president of the Royal Society.

Prof Casselton, 73, and who lives in Oxford, said she was delighted to be made a CBE.

“It’s lovely to be honoured in the birthday honours,” Prof Casselton said.

“The Royal Society is concerned with sponsoring science, making sure the UK and the Government is fully aware of the importance of science and that financing science is important for the future of our economy.”

Also honoured was Prof Ann Buchanan, whose contribution to social science research was recognised with an MBE.

Prof Buchanan said: “It came totally out of the blue, but you do this work not for the honours, but because you want to the work for the kids.”

Jason Kingsley, who co-founded international computer games company Rebellion, was honoured with an OBE for his services to the economy.

His firm, based in Oxford, employs about 200 people and produces games and comics which sell worldwide.

Mr Kingsley said: “In the UK we are still in the premier league of making games and that’s very good for UK Plc.”

A former manager of Oxford’s Randolph Hotel has been honoured for his services to the Tourism industry.

Tim Gardiner, 67, is vice-chairman of Tourism For All, a charity which promotes accessible tourism for the disabled. He becomes an MBE.

He said: “It is very rewarding to know that I have been recognised.”

Mr Gardiner, who lives in Kennington, has been in the tourism industry for 50 years.

George Hedges, secretary and chairman of Respite Nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters (Rosy), is honoured for services to sick children who are nursed in their own homes.

An Oxford-based GP who manages Great Britain’s under-15 skiing team has been made an MBE.

Dr Jenny Shute, who practices at Bury Knowle Surgery and King Edward Street Surgery, has been honoured for her services to British skiing after 20 years of work for the sport.

The 62-year-old said: “I am very humbled. Working with the children has given me enormous pleasure.”

Also honoured were Peter Hawkins, a human development team leader for the Department for International Development, who was awarded an OBE; Keith Cottell, who was made an MBE for services to swimming and lifesaving; and Gillian Barnard, awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Salford.