SEEN here flying the flag for tourism in Yorkshire is Yorkboat owner Denise Howard, who was presented with an OBE at Buckingham Palace.

Mrs Howard, who runs the award-winning River Ouse cruise company with her husband, John, and is a director of Yorkshire Tourist Board and York Tourism Bureau, travelled to the capital to receive the honour from the Queen.

She was acclaimed in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of her continued services to the tourism industry in York and Yorkshire.

Also honoured at the investiture was Sir Ron Cooke, vice-chancellor of the University of York, who was knighted for his services to higher education.

Sir Ron has been at the helm of the university since 1993 and is to retire in the summer. The university is now placed second nationally for its teaching standards and sixth for its research work.

It was Mrs Howard's second visit to the Palace - she attended a cocktail party with her husband in 1994, when she was pregnant with her daughter, Ellen.

This time she brought seven-year-old Ellen along, together with her parents, Norman and Janette Hanley.

She also met other recipients such as actor Ben Kingsley and Lynne Redgrave.

Mrs Howard said: "The Queen wanted to know about tourism in Yorkshire and the boats on the river in York. I was wearing my pin badge saying York Live the History and she wanted to know about that. I said I was flying the flag for York.

"My daughter was very lucky to get an opportunity to go into the Palace, she certainly enjoyed it. "My parents were very proud, it was a big moment for them."

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, April 13, 2002