THEY are Hampshire’s greats.

Tonight the exceptional achievements of 26 people in our region have been recognised as they appear in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

From dedicated charity work to pioneering research, great sportsmanship and those who give their time and love as foster carers, a collection of medals has been bestowed on residents and workers in the county.

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Perhaps the worst-kept secret is New Forest resident and TV presenter Esther Rantzen (above), who is today made a Dame for her services to children and older people.

The That’s Life star has established two charities – ChildLine to help youngsters in distress or danger, and The Silver Line for older people who are lonely or isolated.

Esther, who lives in Bramshaw, said she was “thrilled” with the recognition and her “greatest wish” was that her husband Desmond Wilcox, who she was married to for 30 years before he died in 2000, had been alive to see her made a Dame.

Esther, 74, said: “I am thrilled that this honour recognises the contribution made by ChildLine and The Silver Line in transforming lives, and I am delighted that the talented teams at both charities have also been recognised for their inspirational work and devotion to the most vulnerable children and older people in our society.”

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Joining her in the prestigious honours list is John Bonney (above), Hampshire’s fire chief for the past ten years, who retires from the service today having been made a CBE.

Earlier this month, in his final speech as chief fire officer, Mr Bonney paid tribute to his colleagues and said he had been “honoured” to serve with them – poignantly making mention of the low point of his tenure following the deaths of firefighters James Shears and Alan Bannon in the Shirley Towers blaze.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is also celebrating a second honour for its assistant chief fire officer, Bob Ratcliffe, who received the Queen’s Fire Service Medal to commend him for 34 years of dedicated service.

Mr Ratcliffe, who started his career at Redbridge fire station before moving through the ranks and retiring in April this year, said he was “delighted and surprised” adding: “The hardest part was keeping it quiet.

"I have been very fortunate. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is a great organisation and we have got amazing people that work for the fire service.

“The only part tinged with sadness was Shirley Towers. It has been a great career and I have got lots of happy memories.”

The University of Southampton is celebrating the news that two members of its staff have been honoured.

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The first is Cyrus Cooper (above), Professor of Rheumatology and the director of the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, who has been made an OBE for services to medical research.

His internationally renowned and pioneering research has helped to improve the lives of thousands of people suffering from bone diseases, most notably osteoporosis.

Professor Cooper said he was “surprised and delighted” and paid tribute to the Medical Research Council for its continuous support.

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He is joined on the honours lists by Colin Miles (above) , a facilities manager within the Physical Sciences and Engineering faculty, who has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to higher education.

Mr Miles, who has devoted more than 35 years to the university, providing technical support for teaching and research requirements as well as managing technical staff, said the honour was “a great surprise”.

Trevor Richards, from Southampton, has also been awarded a BEM for services to Biomedical Research and the Welfare of Animals in Research.

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Jan Ward (above) , chief executive of Hampshire business Corrotherm International in Totton, has been made a CBE.

The 57-year-old mother-of-one who lives in the New Forest is also a non-executive director at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and a past president of the Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce.

She said: "It was a real shock. It means I have to work harder now to keep it up.

"I have to thank my employees and the thing I'm most proud of is that they have all stayed on. No one has ever handed in their notice."

Earlier this month she was recognised as one of Britain's leading manufacturers in the Manufacturer Top 100 report.

Amanda Chessell who works in Hampshire and played a vital role in computer software innovation, has been made a CBE for services to engineering.

The computer scientist joined IBM Hursley, near Winchester, in 1987, winning multiple awards as well as being elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy – one of the most prestigious honours in engineering.

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Hampshire county councillor Keith Chapman (above) has been made an MBE for services to arts and culture.

A Cabinet member for four years, he was elected in 2001 but has been dedicated to promoting culture and sport for decades.

Cllr Chapman, 72, said: “I was rather taken aback when I got the letter and could not believe it. I’m delighted, if a bit shocked, and to be honest the award should go to my wife for putting up with me for 47 years!”

A Southampton mum who has dedicated more than 30 years to raising thousands of pounds for leprosy victims in India has also been made an MBE for voluntary services to the community in rural India.

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Jillian Ghanouni (above) is one of the founding trustees of Southampton charity the New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust, working to support sufferers and families of those diagnosed with the devastating disease.

The 55-year-old NHS engagement officer said: “When I first opened the letter I thought it was an April Fool’s joke! It is a great honour and I am astounded as I always associated it with people who are well-known or have worked for big organisations.”

Volunteer Margaret Marten, who has dedicated her spare time to running Winchester prison visitors’ tea bar and serving the Chandler’s Ford community, has also been made an MBE. She is one of around 50 volunteers who give up their free time.

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David Stone (above), the former head gardener at Mottisfont Abbey near Romsey, who devoted 36 years to conserving a national historic rose collection, has been awarded the BEM for his services to horticultural heritage.

The 65-year-old dad-of-three, who lives with wife Ann, said: “To receive national recognition is quite amazing for doing a job that I love.”

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Sue Kirkham (above), of Lymington, has been made an MBE for services to education after a lifetime devoted to raising standards.

She began her career as a modern languages teacher and was a head teacher for 14 years, retiring in 2007 when she took up roles with a number of national bodies, most recently being appointed chairman of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors.

Village stalwart Jeanne Wilde has been awarded the BEM for services to her local community.

Mrs Wilde has lived in Burley, in the New Forest, for more than 30 years and edits the village magazine. She was the driving force behind the relaunch of an amateur dramatic group that had been disbanded in 1962.

Following what was described as an “inspirational” article by Mrs Wilde, the Burley Players were re-formed in the late 1980s, with her as chairman.

In 2008 she led protests against plans to build a £110,000 chapel over some of the graves at St John the Baptist Church.

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Romsey’s Steven Dexter (above) , a civil servant with the Maritime Coastguard Agency in Southampton, has been made an MBE for his contributions to water safety.

Mr Dexter is an evidence analyst and who has spent 12 years of his 27-year career with the MCA.

He said: “I am delighted and extremely proud to receive this award. It is a great honour for me. I feel privileged that my work in this area makes a difference.”

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Her leadership to Girl Guides for the past 42 years has resulted in Jinty Williamson (above) being awarded an MBE.

The 64-year-old, from Chandler's Ford, leads the 1st Chandler's Ford Guide Unit and was the former headteacher at Fair Oak Junior School, where she worked for 20 years.

She said of the MBE: “It's an absolute honour - but it actually has all been about teamwork and having a team of loyal people that work with you - people that I can't name, but also parents and the girls.”

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Charity chief executive Amanda Tincknell (above) is made a CBE for services to the charitable sector.

The 53-year-old joined the Romsey-based Cranfield Trust in the 1990s as a volunteer before becoming a project manager, then trustee and finally chief executive in 2000.

Amanda said her award was recognition of the great work done by the trust and its 770 volunteers nationwide.

She said: “It's a huge honour for me personally but really a recognition of the work that a lot of people have done.”

Also recognised and being made MBE’s are Valerie and Michael Andrews for services to children and families for their fostering work with Hampshire County Council.

Eve Richardson, from St Lawrence on the Isle of Wight, is made an OBE. The former chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care is honoured for her services to end of life care.

Lt Col David Langford from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, is also made an MBE for services to the community.

Peter Camp from Gosport receives the BEM for services to the community in Alverstoke and Pauline Holloway also receives that honour for services to National Maritime Heritage.