Two East Kent residents have been named in the New Year Honours.

Professor Michael Wright, who lives at Sandwich, has been made a CBE for his services to higher education and the community in Kent while Sheila Rodmell, from Elvington, has been awarded the MBE for her services to the community.

Prof Wright has been Vice-Chancellor and principal of Canterbury Christ Church University for more than 12 years and is set to retire next year. He was instrumental in the university's transformation, including the award of full university title in 2005 and the expansion to Broadstairs, Medway and Folkestone.

Student admissions during his time there have almost doubled.

Prof Wright started his career as lecturer, senior lecturer and then principal lecturer in law at the University of West of England before moving to Glasgow Caledonian University.

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, a member of the Council of Church Colleges and Universities, a member of the Governing Body of Thanet College, a Commissioner at the Duke of York's Royal Military School at Dover, a member of the Canterbury Festival Board and the Kent Public Services Board.

Sheila Rodmell, who is 72, has lived in Elvington all her life, supporting many of the village activities.

She has provided tea for the football, cricket and bowls teams, still runs a youth club, has helped organise discos, and delivers village magazines and other leaflets to homes in the area.

"I am only about four feet but I felt 10 feet tall when I heard I had been given the award," said Mrs Rodmell. "I was over the moon. I couldn't believe it."

She was also involved with the Elvington Community Hall Oral History Group which produced a book on the history of the mining village some years ago.