All so proud to do the honours

Teachers, street cleaners, museum workers and lollipop ladies are among the range of people awarded from the list which is one of the highest signs of appreciation the country offers.

Among them is Peter Fletcher, head teacher at Easingwold School, whose devotion of 27 years to education has earned him an OBE.

Starting his career at Archbishop Holgate's School in York, Mr Fletcher moved on to teach in Mansfield, Notts, followed by heading a Lincoln school and serving on Lincolnshire County Council's advisory service.

He returned to Yorkshire as head in Easingwold five years ago.

"I came home about five weeks ago and found a letter marked urgent from the Prime Minister on the doormat," he said."My first reaction was "what have I done?" but inside it said I had been nominated for an OBE.

"Today is the first I knew of actually getting the award and I am absolutely stunned." Mr Fletcher, 49, said the award was not just for him, but something that the whole school should be proud of.

"It is a great honour, but education is a team effort and I have to thank an excellent team of students and staff who make this a really good school," he said.

"My celebration will be seeing them all on Monday morning. Nobody knew anything about this, and I can't wait to see their faces."

Another headteacher, Kevin McAleese from Harrogate Grammar School, received a CBE for his services to education."I am surprised, delighted and flattered beyond measure," he said.

But he added that his joy was mixed with sadness that his wife, who died of cancer two months ago, could not share the moment with him.

"Dorothy was a tower of strength and support to me throughout my career," he said.

"We would have enjoyed this great honour together as a family with our two teenage children."

Second in command at North Yorkshire Police Paul Kernaghan receives the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. He said it was the proudest moment of his life.

The assistant chief constable said one of the greatest challenges in his 20-year career was commanding the police response to the Dunkeswick air disaster in 1995.

"It was tragic and you were constantly thinking of the families, but it was a real test for North Yorkshire Police," he said.

Harrogate fireman Brian Pattyson is awarded the medal for Distinguished Service in the Fire Service.

The father-of-two, 49, started his career in 1964 and was promoted to the rank of Divisional Officer III 10 years ago.

He said: "I feel extremely proud to receive such an honour, and it came as quite a surprise when the letter dropped through the letterbox.

"I started off as a cadet, and the job grew on me. At 18 I thought it was the best job in the world and my opinion has not changed after all these years.

Street cleaner Fred Stewart, from Heslington, received an MBE for his community service. For the past 15 years he has walked a daily six-mile route keeping the area clean and visiting elderly and infirm residents.

In 1996 he was named the Yorkshire and Humberside Street Cleaner of the Year.

His wife Gladys said: "He is pleased, but it's a bit of a shock really."

The award is a timely tribute to 80-year-old Fred, who retires at the end of this month.

Freda Richardson, 64, who has been the lollipop lady at Norton County Primary School for 28 years, is awarded the MBE for services to the safety of schoolchildren.

Both her grown-up daughter Joyce and son Peter attended the school, and some of her grandchildren are currently pupils.

Her career started as a school cleaner, when a joke about taking the lollipop lady's job turned into reality.

"The next day there were two policemen standing at the door and they said "We hear you're interested in the lollipop job."

"I said I couldn't take it because I was due to go to hospital to have a disc removed. But they begged and begged me, so I said I would temporarily."

She continued: "After a week I was told they were going to make me permanent and they would get a relief when I went in for my operation.

"I never did go in for the operation because my back got better, and I'm still here."

She said she had received good support from staff and parents at the school, as well as her supervisor Sally Readman.

The Rev Canon John Armstrong received an MBE for his service to the RAF and York's Ex-Servicemen's Association.

He has been the chairman of the association for 20 years and was also rector of All Saints Church, Pavement, York, until six years ago.

He said he thought of the honour as a thank you to all the people involved in the association and he was singled out because his name, beginning with A, was at the top of the list.

"It is very kind of them, but I am sure there are other people that work equally hard," he said.

"It is always a great pleasure to work with these people. They are a great lot and it is nice to be able to let people remember what did happen during the last war."

Angus Elliot, 68, gets the MBE for services to the community in Botton Village at Danby, near Whitby.

Mr Elliot, who said he was delighted to receive the honour, has been a resident of the Camphill Village Trust's community since 1955.

He said: "I was a farmer. Then I did some storekeeping in the village shop, and I've worked for at least 22 years in central sales, packing parcels."

The Camphill movement is inspired by Christian ideals, following the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner.

Ian Robinson is awarded the MBE for services to the Yorkshire Air Museum. He joined a small group of volunteers keen to see the museum established on land in Elvington, near York, 50 years ago.

In 1987 he was elected as an associate member of the Aircrew Association, normally restricted to military aircrew.A Thirsk pensioner's services to the Red Cross earned her an MBE.

Ivy Cartwright ,73, works as the charity co-ordinator in the town.

She said: "It was a wonderful surprise when I got the letter. I have to admit I had a little cry. I shall have to buy myself a new outfit to wear."

Mrs Cartwright also helps at St Mary's Church, the East Thirsk Community Association and organises street collections for charity.

Lifelong voluntary worker Judith Thomas is awarded the MBE for her dedication to the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate.

Mrs Thomas, 54, spearheaded the campaign to raise £170,000 to refurbish the old town hall in 1989 to create the gallery and house Harrogate's art collection.

She said she was looking forward to telling her grown-up son and daughter the news.

Other North and East Yorkshire people awarded are Cynthia McDougal, from Knaresborough, who receives the OBE for her work in the Home Office and Leonard Turner, who gets the MBE for his dedication to the Benefits Agency.

Robert Langlands, from Wetherby, the chief executive of the NHS Executive department of health, is made a Knight Bachelor, and Colin Turner, who works for the North Yorkshire Fire Service is given the MBE.

Peter Dykes, from Wetherby, training systems co-ordinator for Vickers Defence Systems, receives an MBE for services to the defence industry and charitable services in Romania.

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