Kent MP Roger Gale becomes a knight in the new year's honours list.

The Thanet North and Herne Bay backbencher was elected to the House of Commons in 1983 - and has remained MP for the Kent constituency ever since.

He has sat on the home affairs select and broadcasting select committees, and has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to several ministers.

The 68-year-old was also a vice chairman of the Conservative party under Iain Duncan Smith.

Speaking about the award, he said: "This honour belongs to my wife Suzy, who's worked alongside me and stood by me for the whole of my time in the House of Commons and a long time before that.

"And above all, it belongs to all of those people who, for whatever reason, have voted for me in so many elections since 1983.

"It's been incredibly difficult [to keep the news a secret]. The system is that you're notified and asked whether you'll accept an honour several weeks before the announcement is made, so there's obviously a huge temptation to tell those nearest and dearest to you.

"There are lots of things that I haven't yet achieved for my constituents that I want to see through, and I want to support the Prime Minister and his government through an extremely difficult time.

"We've got to get the 'great' back in to Great Britain and I want to be a part of that."

Also honoured is Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (pictured right), who is awarded an MBE for services to local government in the town.

Mr Kite has been leader at Dartford since February 2006 and serves as a borough councillor for Longfield, New Barn & Southfleet. He is also chairman of the local parish council and a county councillor.

But it is not just politicians scooping the glory: Professor Stephen Lambert-Humble, head of dentistry at the University of Kent, is awarded an MBE for services to dental care and education.

And charity workers have also shared in the limelight.

David Ashman, of Sandwich, is given an OBE for voluntary service to SSAFA Forces Help, and Christopher Hall, chairman of World Horse Welfare, gets an OBE for services to equine welfare.

Being given a CBE is Professor James Mansell, of Canterbury - emeritus professor of learning disability for services to people with intellectual disabilities.

In Gravesend, 70-year-old Bakhshish Singh Sodhi, of Ranelagh Gardens, has been honoured for his services to race relations in his community.

Some of Mr Sodhi's work dates back to the late 1970s when the National Front and BNP parties were highly organised in the town and he fought against them to soften tensions in the area.

Mr Sodhi, who is senior vice president of the Shri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara off Saddington Street, said this honour is very satisfying: "I feel this award is not just for me it's for the whole community of Gravesend.

"It is always in my mind to serve society - sometimes I feel I was made for this community."

Gerald Williams, chairman of the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum, takes a bow - and an OBE - for services to the environment.

The Tonbridge man said: "I've always loved trees and I've planted lots of them over the years, especially since the hurricane in 1987 when we lost an awful lot of trees around the county.

"I was totally surprised and quite pleased to receive the honour. I've put a lot of effort into raising money for the pinetum, so I can't be anything but pleased and honoured.

"But there are a lot of other people at Bedgebury who I think would have deserved it just as much."

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Kent's full honours list

KNIGHTS BACHELORRoger James Gale, MP. For public and political services. (Canterbury)
CBE
Robert Assirati. Formerly director, Major Projects Authority, Cabinet Office. (Tonbridge)
Professor James Mansell. Emeritus Professor of Learning Disability. For services to People with Intellectual Disabilities. (Canterbury)
OBE
David James Ashman. For voluntary service to SSAFA Forces Help. (Sandwich)
Dr Alan John Cooper. Higher Technologist, Audio Visual Evidential Analysis, Metropolitan Police Service. For services to the Police. (Aylesford)
David Cotterill. Grade B2, Ministry of Defence. (Sevenoaks)
Roy Crouch. Formerly Whitehall Streetscape Project manager, Cabinet Office. Mrs Samantha Louise Darby. Policy Adviser, Domestic Violence, Home Office. (Eynsford)
Lt Col Anthony James Davies, MBE. Formerly chief executive, Union Jack Club and Chair, South Atlantic Medal Association. For services to the Armed Forces. (Tonbridge)
Christopher Sandford Hall, TD, DL. Chairman, World Horse Welfare. For services to Equine Welfare. (Tunbridge Wells)
Dr Andrew Kidd. Deputy head, Kabul Office, Department for International Development. (Maidstone)
Gerald Barry Macintosh Williams. Chairman, Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum. For services to the Environment. (Tonbridge)
MBECouncillor Jeremy Alan Kite. For services to Local Government in Dartford. (Dartford)
Professor Stephen Lambert-Humble. Head of Dentistry, University of Kent, South East. For services to Dental Care and Education.

Mrs Glenys McDonald. Senior Judges' Clerks' manager, Royal Courts of Justice, Ministry of Justice.
Mrs Susan Diane Pamphlett. Inward Visits manager, Overseas Office, Department of Chamber and Committee Services, House of Commons. (Maidstone)
Bajloor Rashid. Restaurateur and president, Bangladesh Caterers Association. For services to Bangladeshi Catering. (Ashford)
Bakhshish Singh Sodhi. For services to Race Relations in Gravesend.