A SENIOR police officer, a Test cricketer and a blind sportswoman are among the county's recipients of awards in the Queen's New Year honours.

Jan Berry, a chief inspector with Kent Police and chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM).

The QPM is awarded for her distinqusihed career while in Kent Police, serving at Sittingbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone, together with the 18 years commitment holding office at the Police Federation, both in Kent and subsequently nationally.

Mrs Berry, who lives in Tonbridge, said: says: “I feel honoured and extremely proud to receive the Queen’s Police Medal. The award is testament to the hard work and dedication of many of my colleagues throughout Kent and the Police Federation.

"I believe it recognises those who do their utmost to ensure that a professional, reliable and fair police service delivers the very best it can to communities throughout Kent and beyond.”

Commenting on Mrs Berry’s award, Mike Fuller, Chief Constable of Kent Police, said: “On behalf of the force I would like to congratulate Jan on the award. It recognises her remarkable determination and resilience and her many significant achievements, including, of course, becoming the first woman chairman of the Police Federation. She is a highly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”

Kent's England wicketkeeper/batsman Geraint Jones receives the MBE along with fellow members of the England squad involved in the Ashes victory over Australia in the summer.

The New Year honour completes a significant year for Jones who has proved something of a lucky talisman to the England side since making his Test debut in Antigua last April.

After helping England to series wins over the West Indies and New Zealand he was at centre stage during some of the most heart-stopping moments of the Ashes victory.

His was the memorable catch that secured victory at Edgbaston while his contribution of 85 to a stand of 177 with Andrew Flintoff helped secure a draw at Trent Bridge.

Though a latecomer to the English game (he lived in Australia until the age of 22 and first came to Kent’s attention when almost 25), Jones is already closing in on a century of Test dismissals with 85 to his credit to date.

A 74-year-old woman from Sevenoaks who lost her sight 14 years ago but went on to win a Commonwealth Games blind singles bowls gold medal has been made an MBE for her services to disabled sport.

Ruth Small took up bowling after being left totally blind by the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa.

She is coached by her husband Jack, also aged 74, who tells her where to bowl during a game and which stroke to use. She told the BBC she was said "absolutely delighted".

But the grandmother-of-five is not keen on the term "for her services to disabled sport".

She told the BBC: "I wish the terminology was slightly different to that. I wish it was for 'services to sport for people with disabilities'.

"The 'disabled' seems to shut the door before you have opened it. The disability should come second and sportsmanship should come first."

Elaine Craven, managing director of Earl Street Employment Consultants Ltd in Maidstone, receives the MBE for services to business and to the community in Kent.

Mrs Craven has made a large contribution to Chamber of Commerce issues in the county.

FULL NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST FOR KENT

NIGHTS BACHELOR

Keith Mills, chief executive, London 2012, for services to sport, Bidborough, near Tunbridge Wells.

ORDER OF THE BATH

CB

Richard Philip Douglas, finance director, Department of Health, Rainham.

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

LVO

The Hon Rowena Margaret Sanders, Lady in Waiting to Princess Michael of Kent.

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

CBE

Mrs Sylvia Ernestine Denton, OBE, president, Royal College of Nursing, for services to Healthcare, Sevenoaks; Laurence Michael Edmans, for services to Pension Reform, East Peckham.

OBE

Mrs Nadra Ahmed, chair, National Care Homes Association, for services to Social Care, West Malling; Christopher Austin, formerly executive director, Community Rail Development, Strategic Rail Authority and chair, West Somerset Railway Company, for services to Passenger Transport, Bromley; Alan John Bates, chair, Chatham Historic Dockyard Volunteer Service, for services to Heritage, near Meopham; Roy William Bishop, QFSM, deputy commissioner, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, for services to the Fire Service and to the people of London, Keston; David William Martin, Grade B1, Ministry of Defence, Gillingham; Michael John Wear, chair, Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team, for public service, Sevenoaks.

MBE

Mrs Marie Catherine Bardrick, formerly usher, Royal Courts of Justice, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Erith; Keith John Barnes, senior management technician, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of London, for services to Higher Education, Orpington; Mrs Lorna Maureen Coulson, advanced skills teacher for Science, Langley Park School for Girls, Bromley, for services to education, Beckenham.

Mrs Elaine Barbara Lillian Craven, managing director, Earl Street Employment Consultants Ltd, for services to business and to the community in Kent, Maidstone; Captain Thomas Crookall, chair, Merchant Navy Welfare Board, for services to the Welfare of British Seamen, Goudhurst; Mrs Phyllis June Darbyshire, chair, Capel Parish Council, for services to the community in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge; Neil Robert Daws, for charitable services, Rochester; Mrs Yvonne Evans, for services to the League of Friends at Maidstone Hospital and to the community in Hollingbourne, Maidstone; Group Captain John Seymour Hart, for services to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Ashford; Thomas Cyril House, for services to the Royal British Legion, Brenchley.

Mrs Jacqueline Jarman, higher executive officer, Highways Agency, Maidstone; Raymond Philip Jarvis, formerly Head of Economics, Simon Langton Grammer School for Boys, Canterbury, for services to education. (Canterbury; Geraint Owen Jones, for services to cricket, Canterbury; Mrs Barbara Joan Kenny, for services to Medway Magistrates' Court, Chatham; Andrew David Kirk, chair, Education Appeals Panel, Kent, for services to education, Deal; Edward Howard Oatley, headteacher, Sevenoaks Preparatory School, for services to education and to the community in Kent, Sevenoaks; Mrs Linda Lou Alberta Parry, formerly deputy-keeper, furniture, textiles and fashion department, Victoria and Albert Museum, for services to art, Newington; Dr Mohammad Rahman, general medical practitioner, for services to healthcare in Gillingham; Stanley Kenneth Ranger, for services to the Strode Park Foundation and to the community in Kent, Herne Bay; David Myron Alexander Reid, formerly director of Visa Services, Turkey, Home Office, West Wickham; Ms Deborah Anne Lynne Russell-Fenwick, constable, British Transport Police, for services to the community in London, Culverstone; Mrs Ruth Constance Small, for services to disabled sport, Sevenoaks; Ian Walker, Local Government officer, Camden Council, for services to Local Government in London, Sidcup.