A LEADING member of Kent County Council is among people across the county saluted the by the Queen in the New Year honours list.

Cllr Alex King, deputy leader of KCC, who lives at Hawkhurst, receives in the MBE for services to Local Government.

He has been closely involved in promoting the county’s economy over the past few years.

He has also been the driving force behind burgeoning links between the county and the Commonwealth of Virginia, continuing last summer with the launch of direct flights between Manston and Norfolk, Virginia.

LIST OF KENT RECIPIENTS

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE CBE: Mrs Mary Helen Bayne, CVO Grade 5, Home Office, (West Wickham); David Humphrey Gavin Penney, vice-president, BT Global Business Markets, for services to the communications industry, (Tunbridge Wells).

OBE: David John Astley, chief executive, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, for services to the NHS, (West Malling); Mrs Jacqueline Brookes, chief executive officer and executive director, Federation of Communication Services, for services to the communications industry (Orpington); Paul Hacker Brown, Band A, Prime Minister's Office (Beckenham); Mrs Jennifer Susan Byers, formerly executive director, Donor Services, Charities Aid Foundation, for services to charity; Peter John Scales, formerly chief executive, London Pensions Fund Authority, for services to Local Government (Whitstable); Professor Ian Swingland, founder, The Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, for services to conservation (Canterbury).

MBE: Mrs Gill Bromley, strategic manager, Kent County Council Libraries and Archives, for services to Local Government (Maidstone); James Clarke, formerly legal adviser, perimeter issues, Financial Services Authority, for services to the Financial Services Industry (Bromley); Mrs Pamela Mary Comber, for services to Mental Health in Folkestone,(Folkestone); Professor Amirtham Jebamoney David, director of Nursing and Professional Development, West Kent Primary Care Trust, for services to the NHS (Bromley); Mrs Norah Alice Dobinson, formerly trainbearer to the Lord Chancellor, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Beckenham); Mrs Leigh Flaherty, higher executive officer, Human Resources Operations, Home Office (Welling); Brian Douglas Flood, QPM, for services to the Police (Dover); Mrs Daphne Geer, president, Southern Counties Amateur Swimming Association, for services to sport (Tunbridge Wells); Michael Geer, swimming coach and president, Royal Tunbridge Wells Monson Swimming Club, for services to sport (Tunbridge Wells); Miss Ruth Alison (Miss Langrish) Harte, for services to music (Beckenham); Mrs Brenda Chamberlin Heesom, for services to the Sea Cadet Corps in Gravesend (London, SE3); Mrs Ann Christine Hilton, teacher, Dame Janet Community Junior School, Ramsgate, for services to education (Broadstairs); Alexander John King, deputy leader, Kent County Council, for services to Local Government (Hawkhurst); Ivor Lask, formerly optometrist, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, for services to the NHS (Beckenham); Roger Edward Newman, for charitable services (Margate); Ronald Frederick Osborn, formerly director, Osborn and Simmons Ltd, for services to surgical instruments manufacture (Bexleyheath); Mrs Bridget Carlile Overton, formerly manager, Maidstone Volunteer Bureau, for services to the community in Kent (Maidstone); Mrs Catherine Potter, specialist bed co-ordinator, Medway NHS Trust, for services to the NHS (Gillingham); Malcolm Preece, project manager, HM Revenue and Customs (Dover); Gurdial Singh Rai, for services to the Sikh community in Dartford (Dartford); Mrs Ann Adele Susan Maria Roberts, for services to the community in Edenbridge (Edenbridge); Mrs Adrienne Elizabeth Smith, assistant headteacher, The North School, Ashford, for services to education (Canterbury); Paul Keith Trumble, for services to the community in Thanet (Broadstairs).

QUEEN'S POLICE MEDAL: Ian Gedge, formerly constable, Kent Police.