Artist Tracey Emin was awarded a CBE

Controversial artist Tracey Emin is among the scores of Kent folk honoured in this new year's honours list.

The Margate-born artist - famous for her unmade bed artwork - has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's annual new year roll of honour.

The 49-year-old, who met The Queen at the Turner Contemporary Gallery last year as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations, is part of a group known as Britartists.

She joins the Lord Mayor of London, David Wootton, who has been given a knighthood.

Sir David, who lives in Sevenoaks, was awarded a Knights Bachelor for services to legal business, charity and the City of London.

Veteran marathon man Jack Denness, who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Medway charities over the last three decades, has been awarded the MBE.

Jack Denness in Death Valley in July 2010

The remarkable 77-year-old granddad, nicknamed Death Valley Jack after completing the gruelling 135 mile race 14 times, was “absolutely thrilled to bits” at the news.

At the age of 75 he beat his own record to become the oldest person to finish the endurance trek across California in searing heat, said to be one of the world’s toughest challenges.

And Jack, who still works as a part-time caretaker at St William of Perth Primary School opposite his Rochester home, has not ruled out giving it another go to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Among the many charities to benefit from Jack’s inspiring efforts have been the Kent Air Ambulance, Cliffe Woods Cerbral Palsy Care and the scanner and hydrotherapy appeals at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Speaking at his home in Canon Close, Jack said he started jogging in his mid 40s to keep fit after giving up smoking and drinking.

He has since run 150 marathons in the UK, including 14 London marathons.

Yet Jack has remained modest throughout, insisting, “I’m not an elite runner. I’m just an ordinary, run-of-the mill bloke who turns out, has been quite successful at running.”

Jack and his wife Mags have had to keep tight-lipped about the prestigious award since being told five weeks ago.

"i can honestly say this has come completely out the blue and i have absolutely no idea who nominated me" – runner jack denness

They only broke their silence to their family of three sons and two grandsons over Christmas.

Jack said “When I got the letter from the Cabinet Office, I honestly thought what have I done wrong? Then when I saw it was signed by ‘your obedient servant’ I thought this is a wind-up.

“I can honestly say this has come completely out the blue and I have absolutely no idea who nominated me.”

He added: "This is the icing on the cake for me.”

Civil servant and charity volunteer Sarah Kennett has been recognised for her years of dedicated service.

Sarah, who works for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has been awarded Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the delivery of benefits and to charity.

Mrs Kennett has worked for the DWP for over 30 years, and now works as a regional manager, coordinating benefits offices across Kent.

Although originally from Essex, she has lived in Ashford for most of her life, and now lives in South Ashford with her husband Bernard and son Ryan, with her two daughters, Natalie and Stefanie, having already left home.

About her nomination to receive an OBE, Mrs Kennett said: “I received a letter notifying me about two or three weeks ago, and I was absolutely shocked, it’s quite incredible.

“I’m deeply, deeply humbled by it, as it is such an honour to have been chosen.

“I’m used to not being able to let the cat out of the bag due to the work that I do, but it will be really nice to be able to share the news with my friends, and particularly my family.

“I have had huge support from them over the years, and I can’t thank them enough.”

Alongside her work for the government, Mrs Kennett has also generously donated her time to a number of good causes over the years.

She has been a governor at St Simon’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Ashford for 20 years, and has been chair of governors for 17 of those years.

Along with fellow fund-raisers the Tuesday Ladies, Mrs Kennett has helped to bring in over £15,000 for a wide-range of charities - including the Pilgrims Hospices, Guide Dogs for the Blind and charities which tackle MS.

Former Kent and England cricket captain Mike Denness has been handed an OBE.

The 72-year-old also served the game as an international match referee and as Kent County Cricket Club’s president during 2012.

As a player and captain, the stylish right-handed batsman turned out for Kent for 15 seasons and played 333 times for the county, scoring 17,047 runs at an average of 32.90.

Julia Pender surveys a planning notice in 2009

Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, he first played for Kent in 1962 and then made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1969.

He played 28 Test matches for England – including 19 as captain.

He scored 1,667 runs, including four hundreds. His best of 188 came against Australia, in Melbourne on the 1974/75 tour. He also scored seven half centuries and averaged 39.69 in Test match cricket.

Nicknamed Haggis because of his Scottish roots, he left Kent for Essex and played there between 1977 and 1980. He now lives in Brentwood, Essex.

Lady Julia Pender, of North Court, Tilmanstone, will be made an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the community in Kent.

Lady Pender is a member of many groups and societies. She is president of the Dover and Deal Conservatives Association, honorary president of Fairbridge Kent and chairman of trustees for the Kent Fund for Children among others.

She has also been a member of KCC, she has served on Kent Police Authority and Kent Probation Board and has links to the schools in Sandwich.

Lord and lady Pender are known for their public spirit and have allowed fetes to be held in their grounds for the benefit of families in Tilmanstone.

She has recently helped residents fight plans to site a waste compost plant in Tilmanstone.

Peter Barrell with wife Carol in 2009, after their cruise ship was attacked by pirates

Retired Metropolitan Police officer Peter Barrell of Fordwich Place, Sandwich will be awarded the British Empire Medal for services to children young people and families.

Mr Barrell made the headlines in 2009 after he and his wife Carol were on board a cruise ship that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

A 96-year-old who became fascinated with health and beauty treatments as a teenager has been made an MBE for her work improving standards in the industry.

Joan Thornycroft, from Cranbrook, was named for services to the beauty sector.

Her career has taken her to every continent, where she has taught and lectured, and she has sat on the board of several industry bodies, including BISA - the British International Spa Association and BABTAC - the British Association of Beauty Therapy And Cosmetology.

Mrs Thornycroft said: “I understand that is people who I’ve known and worked with who have nominated me and that is a lovely feeling.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s a funny thing - I am very proud of an industry that is sometimes viewed as being trivial.

"But the health and beauty sector does a great deal of good for many people. It is about so much more than just make up or looking good.

“I can certainly say there has never been a dull moment in my career, but what I am most proud of is raising the standard of beauty therapy.”

She was trained by the world-renowned Helena Rubinstein, best known for launching her own cosmetics line in 1915 and who became a rival of another industry giant, Elizabeth Arden.

Speaking of the moment she knew her career path, Mrs Thornycroft added: “I was 18 and staying in a spa hotel with my parents during a holiday and I just stopped talking to them as I was fascinated by the hotel and the treatments.

"I was so keen on what they were doing I thought I had to follow it up.”

Master ropemaker Frederick Cordier has also been included in the honours list.

Mr Cordier has been made an MBE for services to rope making at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard.

He has worked at the dockyard ropery since 1962.

His knowledge and expertise ensure traditional ropemaking techniques are still used, maintaining a process of ropemaking that dates back on the site more than 400 years.

The ropery remains the oldest rope making facility in the UK. It still uses the quarter-mile long rope walk and machinery from the Victorian era, as well more modern equipment.

Mrs Katie Gardiner, of Pembury, said she was delighted to receive the OBE.

As police lead for the accreditation project at the Home Office's office for security and counter terrorism, she was honoured for services to the security of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

She said: "Performing background checks for the LOCOG accreditation process was an integral part of the Home Office security programme, helping to ensure a highly successful Games enjoyed by the entire world.”

The Kent honours list in full

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

Professor George Thomas Berwick, CBE. Headteacher, Ravens Wood School, Bromley, Kent. For services to Education. (Leigh on Sea, Essex)

Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE. Illustrator. For services to Illustration. (London)

David Hugh Wootton. Lord Mayor of London. For services to Legal Business, Charity and the City of London (Sevenoaks)

ORDER OF THE BATH
CB

Trevor John Llanwarne. Government Actuary. For services to the Actuarial Profession and Public Finances and to Public Service Pension Reform. (Sevenoaks)

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
CBE

Mrs Helen Deeble. Chief executive, P&O Ferries Division and president, UK Chamber of Shipping. For services to the Shipping Industry. (Canterbury)

Ms Tracey Emin. Artist. For services to the Arts.

Ms Pauline Maria Hayes. Deputy director and head, Department for International Development Afghanistan. For service to the UK's International Development Effort in Afghanistan. (Tunbridge Wells)

Leslie Lars Iversen. Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. For services to Pharmacology. (Sevenoaks)

OBE

James Bulley. Director of Venues and Infrastructure and the Olympic Park, LOCOG. For services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Otford)

John Burton. Director of Development, Westfield and director, Westfield Stratford City. For services to Urban Regeneration and to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Dunton Green)

Ms Susan Chalkley. Chief executive, Hastoe Housing Association. For services to Housing and Tenants. (Tonbridge)

Howard Paul Collins. For services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and London Underground. (Tunbridge Wells)

Dean Creamer. Deputy head, UK Wide Operations, Government Olympic Executive. For Preparatory services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Michael Henry Denness. President, Kent County Cricket Club. For services to Sport.

Ms Frances Theresa Duffy. Head, Ceremonials Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport. For public service to the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee. (Sidcup)

Mrs Katie Gardiner. Policy Lead, Accreditation Project, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism, Home Office. For services to the security of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. (Pembury)

Darren Richard Henley. Managing director, Classic FM. For services to Music. (Canterbury)

Mrs Sarah Kennett. Operations Cluster manager, Benefit Integrity, Benefit Centres Directorate. For services to the Delivery of Benefits and to charity. (Ashford)

Mrs Deborah Leek-Bailey. Headteacher, Babington House School, Bromley, Kent, and Member of the Independent/State Schools Partnership Forum. For services to Education.

Paul Thomas Noon. General secretary, Prospect. For services to Employment Relations and Sustainable Development.

Lady Julia Pender. For services to the community in Kent. (Deal)

Ashley Hugh Roberts. Deputy head, Automotive Unit, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. For services to the UK Automotive Industry.

Professor Janet Treasure. Psychiatrist, Eating Disorder Unit, London Maudsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For services to People with Eating Disorders. (Faversham)

MBE

Dr Nellie Turbyne Adjaye. Consultant Paediatrician, Maidstone, Kent. For services to Child Health and Protection.

John Theodore Blackburn. Founder and managing director, Canterbury Bears. For services to Manufacturing and Export. (Canterbury)

Mrs Helen Elisabeth Bowles. Policy Adviser and Deputy CEO, GuildHE. For services to Higher Education. (Sevenoaks)

John Burton, DL. For political and voluntary service to the community in Sedgfield Co Durham. (Dunton Green)

Frederick Cordier. Master Ropemaker. For services to Ropemaking. (Chatham)

Jack Denness. For services to charity in Medway Kent. (Rochester)

Dr Stuart Field. Chairman, League of Friends, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Kent. For services to the NHS. (Canterbury)

Peter John Fowler. Market Trader and Former president of the Covent Garden Market Tenants Association. For services to the Food and Catering Industries. (Horton Kirby)

Albert Furze. Education consultant and lately Headteacher, Bradstow Special Educational Needs School, Broadstairs, Kent. For services to Education. (Broadstairs)

Mrs Carol Kempton. Head of Internal Events, 10 Downing Street. For services to the Prime Minister's Office. (West Wickham)

Lawrence Daniel Lyle. For services to Archaeology and Local History through the Kent Archaeological Society. (Canterbury)

Dr Geetha Nagasubramanian. Consultant Gynaecologist and head of Service, Tower Hamlets Contraception and Sexual Health Services, London. For services to Women and Young People. (Orpington)

Kenneth George Haldane Reedie. Formerly Curator, Canterbury Museum Service. For services to Museums in Kent. (Canterbury)

Mrs Elizabeth Seabrook. Administrator, Insurance Company. For services to Bioscience.

David Malcolm South. Chair, Holcombe Hockey Club. For services to Sport. (Shorne)

Mrs Joan Hastwell Thornycroft. For services to the Beauty Therapy Industry. (Cranbrook)

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
BEM

John Hugo Bailey Ashworth. Basketball Coach. For voluntary service to Basketball and the community in the London Borough of Bromley. (Bromley)

Peter Thomas Barrell. Founder and chairman, Chris Barrell Memorial Trust. For services to Children, Young People and Families. (Sandwich)

Mrs Anne Vera Helen Hawkins. For services to Elderly People in Hildenborough, Kent. (Tonbridge)