Olympian Lizzy Yarnold is among Kent's finest honoured in this year's birthday honours.

The skeleton gold medallist receives an MBE after her dazzling performance at the Sochi Olympics this year.

Lizzy, the 25-year-old from West Kingsdown, won the hearts of those in the county - as well as the country - in the winter Olympics.

She claimed victory in the women's skeleton competition in Sochi.

Yarnold went into the Games as one of Team GB's brightest medal hopes and she lived up to expectations by blowing away the rest of the field.

Speaking after the award was announced, she said: "My hands started shaking as soon as I saw the envelope was from the Palace.

"It's been hard to keep it a secret, especially from my parents."

Also honoured are visually-impaired skier Kelly Gallagher and her Medway guide Charlotte Evans.

Meanwhile, the woman behind Kent's tourist invasion is among those honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours today.

In total, more than 30 men and women from Kent have been recognised in the official honours.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive of Visit Kent, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2014 for her services to Kent tourism.

Speaking today, Mrs Marsh said: “I am very, very proud and honoured to receive this award, which was totally unexpected.

“I have spent 17 years working in tourism in Kent – first at the South East England Tourist Board, then at Leeds Castle and for the past 10 years I have had the privilege of leading the most amazing destination management organisation team in the country – Visit Kent.

“Tourism is a tremendous industry full of passionate, creative, can-do people who manage to retain their sense of humour and positivity however big the challenges.

“I have been privileged to be surrounded by amazing people for 28 years working in this wonderful industry.

"The love of a wonderful family has been the backbone of my achievements and this honour is for them too.”

Meanwhile Emma Pennery, clinical director of Breast Cancer Care, was awarded a CBE for services to people affected by breast cancer.

She is 46 and is married to Tony and lives in West Kingsdown.

"It was a huge surprise, an absolute honour, but a complete surprise.

"I've been working in the breast cancer field for many years and it's lovely to be recognised for that.

"My work has involved one to one care for people affected by breast cancer, and now at a national level I'm involved with writing information for people about their treatment and how to access support.

"Breast Cancer Care is a lovely organisation to work, it really makes a difference to people affected by breast cancer and we help thousands upon thousands of people every year.

"It's lovely to be recognised as a nurse on behalf of other breast care nurses nationwide, but also the from the charity viewpoint."

Chatham skier Charlotte Evans earned another gong for her trophy cabinet.

She helped earn the first British gold medal in Winter Paralympic history after guiding Kelly Gallagher to glory in Sochi earlier this year.

The 22-year-old and her partner, from Northern Ireland, claimed first place in the visually impaired Super-Giant slalom at the southern Russia resort.

She has been awarded the MBE.

Becoming a Dame is fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

Famed for her colourful designs, the Chatham-born icon graduated from Rochester's University for the Creative Artives - formerly the College of Design - in 1961.

Cllr Trudy Dean was also given the award, after more than two decades as a county councillor.

Mrs Dean, who represents Malling Central, has lived in West Malling for more than 30 years.

She has been chairman of West Malling Parish Council and leader of the Kent County Council Lib Dem Group.

A dedicated Professor from Tonbridge has been awarded an OBE.

David Shemmings, who works at the University of Kent has been given the honour for his service to the protection of children.

He is a Professor of Child Protection Research and focuses the majority of his interests, experience and expertise into his work.

David, who has been an academic for 26 years, is also the Co-Director of the Centre for Child Protection, Director of the Assessment of Disorganised Attachment and Maltreatment (ADAM) Project and leads the Advanced Child Protection streaming within the West London Alliance Advanced Child Protection Programme.

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The birthday honours list in full

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

CBE

Miss Susan Margaret Bullock. Opera Singer. For services to Opera. (Beckenham)

Professor Denise Anne Lievesley. Professor of Statistics and head of School of Social Science and Public Policy King's College London. For services to Social Science.

Dr Emma Louise Pennery. Clinical director Breast Cancer Care. For services to People Affected by Breast Cancer. (West Kingsdown)

Charlotte Edwards, Kent and England ladies cricket captain

OBE

Garrett Joseph Cullen. Assistant chief inspector Inspectorate of Borders and Immigration, Home Office. For services to Immigration and Asylum Management. (Bromley)

David James Robert Hill. Chief executive Milton Keynes Council. For services to Local Government. (Ashford)

Mrs Pamela Jones. Headteacher, Ifield School, Gravesend. For services to Education. (Stansted)

Mrs Marion Kay Layberry. Managing director, Safehouses Fostering Agency. For services to Children and Families. (Sevenoaks)

Professor David Shemmings. Professor of Social Work University of Kent. For services to Child Protection. (Tonbridge)

Dr Andrew Spurr. Managing director Nuclear Generation, EDF Energy. For services to the Energy Industry and the UK Economy.

Ms Anna Kim Taylor. Senior Nutrition Adviser Department for International Development. For services to Tackling Global Undernutrition. (Canterbury)

Mrs Barbara Anne Wilson. Assistant director, Border Force, Home Office. For services to Border Security. (Canterbury)

MBE

Mrs Ann Dorothy Allen. For services to the community in Wilmington and Dartford, Kent.

Robert Anthony Atkin. Chief Superintendent Metropolitan Police Service. For services to the Care of Police Survivors charity. (Lenham Heath)

Mrs Susan Beaman. Headteacher, Red Gates Special Educational Needs School, Croydon. For services to Special Needs Education.

Ms Cleo Lisa Blackman. Strategy Adviser Department for International Development. For services to Development in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Gravesend)

The Reverend Shuna Jane Body. Chair British Disabled Fencing Association. For services to Wheelchair Fencing. (Romney Marsh)

Mrs Anne Elisabeth Child. Senior Medicines Management Mental Health Lead Adviser, NHS Kent and Medway. For services to People with Dementia. (Meopham)

Councillor Trudy Dean. Councillor Kent County Council and chairman, West Malling Parish Council. For services to the community in West Malling. (West Malling)

Ms Charlotte Evans. Guide to Paralympic Gold Medallist Skier Kelly Gallagher. For services to Paralympic Sport. (Chatham)

Mrs Christine Margaret Eyden. Primary School Teacher, Charlton Church of England Primary School, Dover. For services to Education. (Deal)

Terence John Paul Golding. For services to the communities in Willesborough and Ashford Kent. (Ashford)

Mrs Sandra Matthews-Marsh. Chief executive, Visit Kent. For services to Tourism in Kent.

Dean Weston. Senior Executive Officer Work Services Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to Young People and communities affected by gang and youth violence. (Folkestone)

Joss Wiggins. Chief Fisheries Officer Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. For services to Fishing and Conservation in the Thames Estuary. (Brightlingsea, Essex)

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

BEM

Maurice Bernard. Health Campaigner Kent. For voluntary service to Older People. (Chatham)

Anthony McGregor Condon. Assistant Leader 15th Dover Scouts. For services to Young People and to the community in Dover, Kent. (Dover)

Professor Noel Charles Grabham. South East Region Co-Ordinator Royal Society of Chemistry Benevolent Fund. For services to Chemists. (Tonbridge)

Mrs Rose Marie Milton. Child and Family Liaison Officer, St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, East Folkstone. For services to Education. (Folkstone)

Mrs Christine Mary Pledger. For services to the Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent. (Folkestone)

Mrs Doris Joyce Thorogood. Music Teacher. For services to Music in Folkstone and to charity through Play-a-thon. (Folkestone)

Philip Stephen Wadey. Trainer Kent and Sussex Area, British Red Cross. For voluntary service to First Aid. (Hastings, East Sussex)