Queen's Birthday Honours for Midlands local heroes

Nationally Rod Stewart, Dame Vera Lynn, singer Ruby Turner and orbiting British astronaut Tim Peake are also among 1,149 people to be acclaimed in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

And Wolves owner Steve Morgan has been made a Commander of the British Empire for his philanthropic services through the Morgan Foundation.

Stewart, 71, received a knighthood for his services to music and charity. In another record for Major Peake, his CMG – Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George – made him the first person to be honoured while in space. Dame Vera said: "I was very surprised to hear that I was going to be appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour."

Gospel queen Ruby Turner is awarded an OBE.

One deserving Midlands winner was Andrew Morris, who has been awarded an MBE for services to special education.

Fifteen years of hard work have seen Mr Morris set up a centre in Blakenhall to help disabled and disadvantaged youngsters.

Youngsters who attend the Wolverhampton Vocational Training Centre are given help learning the skills they need to progress.

Mr Morris, 56, has worked closely with Westcroft Sports and Applied Learning College in the formation of the training centre, in Upper Villiers Street.

He said the award was really a team effort and thanked other people who had supported his endeavours.

Kingswinford resident Mr Morris told the Express & Star: "I'm humbled and delighted. This was something that was completely unexpected but lovely to have the recognition for all the effort that's been put in.

"But it's one of those things that isn't necessarily just about myself – it's everyone else who has contributed to this as well.

"If it wasn't shared then my vision wouldn't have gone anywhere. It's a fantastic accolade – I'm over the moon."

Scores of local heroes across the region have been recognised in the latest batch of gongs handed out to mark the Queen's 90th birthday.

Among the other deserving award winners is the widow of a former Birmingham City and England footballer who played a key role in raising awareness of the importance of polio immunisation, following the introduction of a vaccine in 1956.

Dawn Clements, of Kidderminster, will be awarded posthumously following her death last month aged 79.

Uptake of the vaccination was initially slow until Mrs Clements took up the cause following the death of her first husband, Birmingham City player Jeff Hall.

Hospice volunteer Jean Fletcher, 82, of Stourbridge, has been recognised for her services to both nursing care and to the National Trust.

For the past seven years the retired nurse has volunteered at Mary Stevens Hospice where she is spends time with relatives, helping them come to terms with their loss.

Graham Tritton has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Pattingham. Mr Tritton launched an annual charity run in the village in 1993 after running the London Marathon himself, and it has become a highlight of the annual calendar ever since.

Also among those honoured is a former stone-lifting champion from Kingswinford who helped raise the profile of the sport in his earlier years.

After retiring, Shahzada Saleem has helped youngsters turn their lives around.

After breaking records in his youth – including becoming the first man to lift 200kg on his shoulders – Mr Saleem started the Shazad Academy for disadvantaged youngsters after retiring due to lack of competitors.

The 50-year-old volunteered his time, travelling across the UK and the world to keep the sport alive and to help youngsters turn their lives around.

Mr Saleem said he was 'over the moon' to be honoured with a British Empire Medal. He told the Express & Star: "It's the best thing I've ever achieved in my life.

"This is my dream come true – I'm over the moon.

"My mum passed away eight years ago and she loved the Queen so that makes it really emotional. It was such a shock and all the rest of my family are really happy.

"Everyone is so proud or me and they've been saying I deserve it for what I've done for helping take kids off the streets."

One of the many deserving people honoured is a Staffordshire woman who has helped nurse hundreds of abandoned animals back to full health.

Jennifer Morgan, of Norton Canes, has been honoured at the relatively young age of 34.

Since becoming director of the Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre in 2003, she has helped look after hundreds of abandoned exotic animals, including a lynx that was returned to Africa.

She has also rehabilitated more than 400 birds of prey back into the wild at the centre – which was set up by her late father, Rob Smith, back in 1993.

Since leaving school in 1997, Mrs Morgan has worked at the centre full time and took over the running of the venue when her dad died.

To fund the work she has made the centre a popular place to visit.

The increased income, along with fundraising events, covers the £70,000 annual operating costs and has also paid for upgraded animal enclosures.

Mrs Morgan also obtained a National Lottery grant to fund an education resource. Her citation says she works 'with huge commitment and passion, and is without doubt the driving force behind the centre and its aims.'

She said: "It was definitely a surprise. At first I thought it was a hoax but then my husband pointed out it was actually a very important letter.

"I'd like to thank everybody who has supported me and helped at the sanctuary. It's nice to have somebody think the work you do is worth one of these honours."

Also among those honoured is an motorcycle paramedic who has worked for the West Midlands Ambulance Service for nearly four decades.

Stephen Michael Harris, from Smethwick, was made an MBE for his services to emergency care and voluntary service to the community in Birmingham.

The 64-year-old has been working for WMAS for 38 years – 20 of those as an ambulance paramedic – and also works voluntary for groups including Midlands Freewheelers and Jumbo GB, which helps provide children with specials needs with a day out.

He said: "I don't know how I was nominated it was confidential – the cabinet office wouldn't elaborate.

"When I first found out about it I was shocked, I didn't think that I'd done anything to warrant it.

"I come to work, I am a permitted paramedic and motorcyclist and just couldn't understand why my name was put forward. I am totally humbled to receive it though.

"I'm really looking forward to going to Buckingham Palace and so is my partner. It will be an amazing experience."

Mr Harris retired from the WMAS two years ago but made the decision to come back and work part time.

He added: "Once you've left you think you can do a bit more – it was full time that was doing it to me.

"I took retirement two years ago and left the service but since then I've gone back and I'm currently on a part time contract and do two shifts a week.

"I've not decided when I'm 65 to finish or continue on two days a week yet but we will see"

Gospel queen Ruby Turner is being honoured for services to music with an OBE.

Soul singer Ruby, from Handsworth, is revered for her backing vocals for the likes of Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, UB40 and Jools Holland and is a respected songwriter.

Now 57, she also has the rare distinction of being a British artist and songwriter who has topped the American R&B charts with It's Gonna Be Alright.

Hard work and commitment across all areas has been rewarded in the honours, which saw the leader of Staffordshire County Council appointed an OBE. Councillor Philip Atkins, aged 64, and a farmer from Rocester, was awarded the gong for services to local government after serving on parish, district and county councils, as well as county and regional bodies and police and fire authorities, for more than 30 years.

Councillor Atkins said: "I'm proud to be one of many Staffordshire people recognised today by Her Majesty."

Sewa Singh Mandla, 89, a lawyer and a community and inter-faith leader in West Bromwich, has been appointed an OBE in recognition of his 50 years of legal, human rights and voluntary service.

Julia Barnard from Walsall has been awarded a BEM for services to charitable fundraising, while her fellow town resident David Horton received the same award for services to life saving.

Lynne Jankowska was named in the BEM list for her services to care quality in mental health services.

Christopher Marson from Stafford was rewarded for his services to the community in Northlew, Devon.

Penelope Webb from Kidderminster, a volunteer and retired childminder, has been given a BEM for services to children.

Captain (Rtd) Baden Wilson, of Codsall is described as 'the heartbeat' of the Chindits Old Comrades Association.

The 73-year-old has been secretary general and welfare officer of the club for 25 years, providing 'unstinting and dedicated service' and was awarded a BEM.

MBE winners include Margaret Punyer for political service.

Helen Anne Rayson was handed an MBE for public and voluntary services to service personnel and their families.

Verita Gertrude Reynolds also won an MBE for services to education, Dr Raymond Wood for services to armed forces personnel and 38-year-old Tony Clough, of Lichfield, for services to disabled people.

Also honoured was Reverend Monica Newsome, aged 60, former prison chaplain of Stoke Heath and Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire and Adrian Bowater, director of finance at Walsall Academy, who was honoured for services to education.

The Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Gareth Cann, and Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, David Shaw, have been given the Queen's Police Medal.