Services to sport, travellers and the fire service are recognised in the New Year Honours.

Boxing historian Harold Alderman is made an MBE for services to sporting heritage.

The 67-year-old from Aylesham said: “I thought it was a wind up because I didn’t think someone like me would ever get one.”

He is a founder member of Aylesham Boxing Club and now its president. But he has spent a lifetime acquiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport through exhaustive research.

He is now acknowledged by the British Boxing Board of Control as a leading historian and is a regular contributor to the Boxing Year Book.

Mr Alderman, a retired floor layer, lives in Newman Road and cares for his older brother. His office is crammed with hundreds of files, books and records but all his notes are written by hand because he does not use a computer.

Bridget Jones, who lives in Canterbury, also becomes an MBE for services to the Canterbury Gypsy and Traveller Supoprt Group.

The same accolade goes to developer George Wilson, from Whitstable, for services to business in the county.

Kent’s Chief Fire Officer Charlie Hendry, who lives at Doddington, is made a CBE.

Mr Hendry, 47, led fire and rescue operations during the 1999 Paddington rail disaster.

He joined the fire brigade in London in 1983 and spent 17 years climbing the ranks to become one of the brigade’s most senior officers.

As well as Paddington, Mr Hendry also attended the fatal Wembley train crash in 1984.

In 2000 he moved to Kent Fire and Rescue Service and became deputy chief fire officer. He was appointed Chief Fire Officer in May, 2006.

Mr Hendry was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for outstanding service in 2004.

His interests outside of the fire service include hill walking, going to the theatre and gardening.