Highest accolades for region's people

From humble community workers to multi-millionaire businessmen, West Midlands people from all walks of life were today recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

After decades of tirelessly serving their communities, Black Country stalwarts Fred Perry and Patricia Davies have received MBEs.

Between them, Mr Perry and Mrs Davies have clocked up more than 80 years of services to their respective communities of Tipton and Brownhills.

Mr Perry, an 84-year-old former councillor, was given the title of honourary alderman for Sandwell last year. He served as a Labour ward member for Great Bridge from 1985-2001. He sits on Great Bridge Traders' Association, which he helped found. He is also secretary of the Tipton branch of the Royal British Legion.

The Great Bridge-born former Hill Top School pupil served with the British Army's Fifth Indian Division in 1943-1945 and is an active fundraiser for the annual poppy appeal and other charity campaigns.

Mr Perry said: "This is something I never thought I would get and I didn't think it was real when I saw the letter," he said.

"I would like to thank the people who did this so much, I can't express it in words."

Mrs Davies – known to most as Pat – has been instrumental in turning around the fortunes of Brownhills' once-notorious Avenues Estate. The 64-year-old, from First Avenue, persuaded the council to transform two houses in Second Avenue into a community centre in the early 1980s.

She said she was "ecstatic"about her award.

Property tycoon Paul Bassi, who has been made a CBE in recognition of his services to business and the community in the West Midlands, has come a long way since helping out at his dad's shop as a schoolboy.

Now thought to be worth around £65 million and president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, he is also High Sheriff of the West Midlands. He passed up a place at university to work for a firm in Birmingham, eventually taking it over and then setting up property group Bond Wolfe in West Bromwich, in July 1983.

Mr Bassi, who lives in Pedmore, Stourbridge, said: "I am both delighted and honoured to be given this award."

When David Loughton took over the helm of Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital five years ago, it was under-achieving.

But now things could not be more different, with the hospital one of the highest performing NHS Trusts in the West Midlands and nationally recognised for its excellent records in slashing infections.

He said of his CBE: "It is a great honour and one which I am delighted to receive."

Cannock Labour councillor Zaphne Stretton has received an MBE for services to the community. Councillor Stretton, 65, of Walsall Road, Norton Canes, has been on Cannock Chase Council for 18 years and represents Hednesford North.

"I love charity work – it gives me such a buzz to help people," she said. John Rostill, aged 62, of Halesowen, has received an OBE. He has come a long way since starting out as a trainee with the NHS in 1964.

He has climbed all the way to the top, becoming chief executive of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust in 1991 before moving to the same role at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in 2003.

Councillor Derek Davis, the 69-year-old former chairman of Staffordshire Fire Authority, received an OBE for his services to local government.

Councillor Davis, of Queen Street, Chadsmoor, said: "I am absolutely delighted. I feel honoured that local people have nominated me."

The man who turned around West Midlands Police Authority, Bob Jones has been awarded the CBE for his services to the police. Wolverhampton-born Mr Jones has also served as a local councillor for the Blakenhall ward since 1980. Maureen Woodcock has been honoured with an OBE for services to health care. The grandmother, of Rushall Manor Road, Walsall, was vice chairwoman of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust between 2003 and 2009.

Bewdley mother-of-two Trudi Elliot has been awarded a CBE for more than 20 years service in regional and local government.

Anne-Marie Hale, aged 46, of Great Barr, is matron at the Division One Trauma and Orthopaedics unit in Selly Oak Hospital. She has been awarded an MBE for services to healthcare. Walsall Council's director of children's services Pauline Pilkington, of the Cannock area, will get an MBE for services for local government.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Anthony Hobbins, 40, is the Regimental Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion. He has been honoured with a MBE for his "extensive, outstanding and meritorious service." He grew up in Bromsgrove and has family in Bilston.