A TOP civil servant from Godmersham, near Ashford, who has worked for 17 different Secretaries of State has been rewarded in the New Years Honours list. Jonathan Spencer, director general for business competitiveness in the Department of Trade and Industry, was awarded the Order of the Bath (CB).

He spent a couple of years in the Cabinet Office during Lady Thatcher's tenure at number 10 and was also principal private secretary to two Secretaries of State Ð Cecil Parkinson and Patrick Jenkins.

"It's the 'Bernard' job in Yes Minister," said Mr Spencer. He said the honour made him pleased, not just for himself but for the institutions for which he worked.