by Ruth Banks

A former senior civil servant from Tonbridge has been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Paul Britton of Dry Hill Park Road will be knighted in recognition of his work as the director-general and head of the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

Mr Britton occupied the position for a decade from the late nineties, working alongside senior government figures.

He told KentOnline he was delighted to be honoured in this way: "I was very, very surprised, I mean who would not be?

"I enjoyed doing my job. It was a tremendous opportunity to be so close to all the senior ministers in government from the prime minister downward; to see them at work over such a long period, through so many difficult issues. That, quite honestly, was reward enough.

"Nevertheless it would be foolish to give the impression that I am not very pleased and honoured to receive this knighthood. Of course I am."

Audio: Paul Jackson on his honour

Meanwhile, Prof Michael Wright of Canterbury Christ Church University was honoured for his services to higher education.

Professor Wright, who lives at Sandwich, has been made a CBE.

He 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.

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 and has lived in Elvington all her life, has been awarded the MBE for her services to the community.

She has provided tea for the football, cricket and bowls teams, helped organise discos, still runs a youth club 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.

Sittingbourne scooped a clutch of awards.

Betty Boswell is to be honoured for services to the community and Robin Castle for services to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Former borough and county councillor, Peter Morgan, has also been recognised for his service to the community.

They will receive their honours at some point in the next six months. For more on these visit www.sittingbournemessenger.co.uk

In Gravesend and Dartford, three recipients were celebrating today.

Joan Warwick, who has raised more than £100,000 for Darent Valley Hospital, and Lynn Savill, who has topped the same mark since founding the Gravesend Epilepsy Network, have both been awarded MBEs in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

The pair join Ronald John Bowers, of Havelock Road, Dartford, who is set to receive an OBE for his services in the Ministry of Defence.

For more from Gravesham and Dartford visit www.gravesendmessenger.co.uk

Also marking a special day was Medway's longest serving school governor.

Gabriel Lancaster, of Grange Way, Rochester, has been made an MBE for his services to the community.

He worked as a governor for almost 50 years at the former Chapter School and at what is now Medway Community College.

For more on Mr Lancaster, visit www.medwaymessenger.co.uk

The Duke of Kent’s personal assistant, Patricia Lawrence, was also honoured.

The full list is as follows:

Knights Bachelor

Miss Patricia Ann Lawrence. Personal assistant to The Duke of Kent.MVO

Paul John James Britton, CB. Formerly director-General and head, Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, Cabinet Office. (Tonbridge, Kent)
CBEProfessor Michael Wright, DL. Vice-Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University. For services to Higher Education and to the community in Kent. (Sandwich)

OBERonald John Bowers. Grade B2, Ministry of Defence. (Dartford)
Paul Stafford Jackson. For services to the Computer Games Industry. (Gillingham)

MBEMrs Matilda Akhigbe. Communications Officer, Local Compliance, London, HM Revenue and Customs. (Chislehurst)
John Alfred Bigny. For services to Edenbridge and District Rail Travellers' Association Kent.
Mrs Elizabeth Ann Boswell. For services to the community in Sheerness.

Mrs Yvonne Burdge. For services to the Trust for Chernobyl Children. (Brenchley)
Robin William Castle. For voluntary service to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sheerness.

Miss Susan Ellis. Formerly Principal Officer, South East Area, National Offender Management Service, Ministry of Justice. (Ashford)
Mrs Sheila Gow. For services to Regional Journalism. (Fordcombe)
Ms Belinda Harding. Constable, City of London Police. For services to the Police. (Beckenham)
Gabriel Lancaster. For services to the community in Medway, Kent. (Rochester)
Alderman Peter James Morgan. For services to the community in Sittingbourne.

Ms Jennifer Van Krieken Robson. Head of Minority Achievement Service, Kent County Council. For services to Education. (Herne Bay)
Mrs Sheila Ruth Rodmell. For services to the community in Elvington.
Dr Andrew Oldrey Russell. Formerly chairman, League of Friends, Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital. For services to Healthcare.
Mrs Lynn Savill. For services to People with Epilepsy in Gravesend.

Terence Brian Shead. For services to the community in East Peckham, Kent. (Tonbridge)
Mrs Joan Patricia Warwick. For charitable services to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford.
Christopher Mark Williams. Director, Heart n Soul. For services to Disability Arts. (Faversham)