Great and good honoured for efforts

The great and the good of the West Midlands were celebrating awards in the New Year Honours List today.

Among the high profile awards are Smethwick actress Julie Walters, receiving the CBE, and cricket legend Rachael Heyhoe Flint, from Wolverhampton, who gets an OBE.

Joining them in the list are police officers, clergy, council officials and community voilunteers.

Ms Walters, most famous for her roles in Educating Rita, Billy Elliot and Acorn Antiques, had previously been made an OBE.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Bill Thomas said: "We are all very proud that this daughter of Sandwell has got the award she rightly deserves".

Ms Heyhoe Flint, aghed 68, has been recognised for services to cricket for her campaigning work with the The Lady Taverners, which helps youngsters with special needs get into sport, and the MCC, made up of senior figures in the game.

Widely thought of as England's best-known female cricketer, she has also been with Wolverhampton Wanderers since 1990, starting off as a public relations director and more recently becoming a vice president.

She said: "It was a very happy surprise. It's a great thrill. I thought getting the MBE in 1972 was fantastic. I'm not the sort of person who does things in order to be upgraded."

Nina Dawes, the chief executive of Lichfield District Council, has been awarded an OBE for services to local government and flood rescue.

More than 100 people had to be rescued from their homes in Elford and Fazeley in the summer when floods hit parts of Lichfield.

Miss Dawes led a clean-up – called Operation Helping Hand – which involved unblocking drains and gullies, clearing roads and setting up flood diversions.

The chief executive also held talks with Lichfield's MP Michael Fabricant to try and secure a national response to the flooding saga.

Floods minister John Healey MP later announced a £100,000 recovery grant for flood-hit families in Lichfield.

A former top Staffordshire police officer who took the cloth when he retired has been given the MBE. The Rev John Davis is a former superintendent and sub divisional commander for Stafford and head of the Force Support Unit, which deals with major public order incidents.

In the latter role he also had responsibility for the firearms unit and after leaving Staffordshire Police 11 years ago he turned his energy to community work.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Walton Youth and Community Committee were two of his projects. He also chaired the Staffordshire St John Ambulance and was for many years county secretary of Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Family's Association.

Mr Davis, aged 59, lives in Stafford and is now the non stipendiary curate for Bradley, Church Eaton and Derrington and chaplain at MoD Stafford.

"I have always been a religious person and faith has played a very big part in my life," said Mr Davis. He said news of his award came as "a tremendous shock, a complete shock but a very pleasant one."

Tipton stalwart Ray Brothwood has been awarded the MBE for his services to the community. Mr Brothwood, of Tipton Rotary Club, has worked tirelessly to raise money for charity for the past four decades.

He said he could not have done his good work without the support from the people of Tipton and Sandwell.

"I feel very honoured but it is the people of Tipton and Sandwell who deserve the award, I couldn't have done it without their support," he said.

And a Willenhall netball coach has been honoured. Janet Wrighton has been awarded an MBE for services for sport. Mrs Wrighton is chairman of the All England Netball Association. She is the organisational services manager for the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust.

Roll of honour from across the region

Honours from Staffordshire and the West Midlands include:

CBE

Ms Julie Walters, OBE, of Smethwick. Actor. For services to Drama; Dr Christine Braddock, of Rock, near Bewdley. Principal, Matthew Boulton College. For services to Further Education; Mrs Elisabeth Mary Buggins, of Walsall. Chair, NHS West Midlands. For services to Healthcare.

OBE

Graham Ashmore, of Stourport on Severn. Head of European and Cluster Policy, UK Trade and Investment, West Midlands Region. For services to International Trade; Roy James Harrison, of Bridgnorth. Chair of Governors, Thomas Telford School, Governor, Sandwell Academy, Chair, Building Construction Committee, Madeley Academy. For services to Education; Mrs Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, MBE, DL, of Wolverhampton. For services to cricket; Miss Jeanne Monckton, of Walsall. Lately headteacher, Watling Street Primary School, Walsall. For services to education; Ms Nina Alexandra Dawes, of Stafford. Chief executive, Lichfield District Council. For services to local government and to flood rescue in Staffordshire; Amir Kabal, JP, DL, of Barton-under-Needwood. Member, Learning and Skills Council, National Equality and Diversity Sub-Committee. For services to training. Dr Brian Woods-Scawen, chairman of West Bromwich Building Society. For services to Business and to the community in the West Midlands.

MBE

Mrs Frances Elizabeth Beatty, JP, of Staffordshire. Lately regional director, Country Land and Business Association. For services to business in the West Midlands; Raymond Brothwood, of Dudley. For services to the community in Sandwell, West Midlands; Mrs Rosalee Minalva Butler, of Smethwick. Ward sister, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. For services to nursing; Gurbachan Singh Dhinsa, of West Bromwich. Vice-chair, Greets Green New Deal for Communities. For services to the community in Sandwell; George Terence Edis, of Walsall. Chair, National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations. For services to the community in Walsall; Michael Patrick Gillick, of Worcestershire, Superintendent, West Midlands Police, for services to the police; Cornell Roxroy Crofton Barnes, of Coventry, Constable, West Midlands Police. For services to the police; John Charles Howard Oaker, of Walsall. Lately deputy headteacher, Alumwell Junior School, of Walsall. For services to Education; Anthony Garth Sabell, of Birmingham. Lately optometrist, Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. For services to the NHS; John Joseph Tissiman, of Stourbridge. Vice-president of Engineering Employers' Federation. For services to engineering in South Yorkshire; Mrs Janet Lilian Wrighton, of Willenhall. Director for Europe, International Federation of Netball Associations. For services to sport; John Leslie Harold Butterworth, of Stone. Editor, Shrewsbury and North Shropshire Chronicles. For services to journalism and to charity; Reverend John James Davis, of Stafford. For services to the community in Staffordshire; Mrs Nancy Patricia Wynne, of Stone. For services to Staffordshire Police.

QUEEN'S POLICE MEDAL

Ms Amanda Mason. Inspector, West Midlands Police.