Music man takes New Year's honour

James Marshall, of Milton Keynes, whose company became famous for rock music's Marshall amplifiers, has been awarded a CBE for services to the music industry and charity.

He founded the company in the 1960s and has provided sound equipment for some of the most famous names in rock, including Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

The three counties area has also had its share of New Year's honours from the England rugby team's world cup success.

Kyran Bracken, from Hadley Wood, in Hertfordshire, and Richard Hill are among the Saracens players who have been awarded an MBE.

Laurence Dallaglio and Josh Lewsey from the High Wycombe-based Wasps have also been honoured.

And Detective Superintendent Steven Read of Hertfordshire Constabulary and Paul Hancock, the Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police, have both been awarded the Queen's Police Medal.

Bedfordshire

Order of the British Empire
CBE

Stephen Graham Halliday, of Oakley, Banking and Financial Services director, Post Office Ltd. for services to banking.

Brian Edward Hibbert, of Leighton Buzzard, managing director of INSYS Ltd, for services to the defence industry.

OBE

Margaret Elizabeth Goose, of Marston Moreteyne. Chief executive, The Stroke Association, for services to healthcare.

Michael John Littlewood, of Chelmsford, Essex. Group manager, East Anglia, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Courts, The Court Service, Department for Constitutional Affairs.

MBE

David Charles Challenger, for services to the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association in Luton.

Queen's Police Medal
QPM

Paul David Hancock. Chief Constable, Bedfordshire Police.

---

Buckinghamshire

Knights Bachelor

Peter Oliver Gershon, CBE, of Coleshill. Chief executive, Office of Government Commerce.

David Edwin Hatch, CBE, JP. Chairman, Parole Board for England and Wales, for services to the criminal justice system.

Order of the British Empire
CBE

Richard John Hunt, of Milton Keynes. President and Past chairman, Institute of Logistics and Transport, for services to those industries.

OBE

Stephen Peter Powell, of Bourne End. Chief executive, SIGN. For services to deaf people.

MBE

Beverley William Howard, of Chackmore. Lately Scout Leader, for services to Young People.

Michael Shane Reilly, of Milton Keynes. Group managing director, Sonatest plc. for services to business in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Mary Shurrock, of High Wycombe, for services to the community in Stokenchurch.

Timothy Victor Smith, of Amersham. Founder Leader, Chesham All Girls Marching Band, for services to young people.

---

Hertfordshire

Order of the British Empire
CBE

Sheila Gleig, of Ware. Chair, British Coal Superannuation Scheme and Trustee of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme, for services to the coal industry.

OBE

Michael Hirst, of Bushey Heath. Chairman, Business Tourism Partnership. For services to the tourist industry.

John Humphreys, of Welwyn Garden City. Director of Employment Relations, Royal College of Nursing, for services to the NHS.

Michael James Leahy, of Hemel Hempstead. General secretary, Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, for services to trade unions.

Donald Whyte MacLeary, from near Hitchin. Lately (currently Guest) Principal Repetiteur, Royal Ballet. for services to dance.

James Charles Marshall, of Milton Keynes, for services to the music industry and to charity.

Peter Gordon Tallantire, of Redbourn. Team Leader, Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Cabinet Office.

Dr Rona Valerie Tutt. Lately Headteacher, Woolgrove Special School, Letchworth and 2003 vice president, National Association of Head Teachers, for services to special needs education.

MBE

Kyran Bracken, of Hadley Wood, for services to Rugby Union.

Ralph Llewellyn Durbridge, of Watford. Constable, Hertfordshire Constabulary, for services to the police.

Anthony John Cedric Fyson, of St Albans. Journalist honoured for services to town planning and urban environmental education.

David William Graham, of Watton At Stone, for services to the Independent Monitoring Board, HM Prison The Mount, Hemel Hempstead.

Noel Grace Hartle, of Berkhamsted, for services to the Citizens' Advice Bureau, Dacorum.

Dr David Hilling, of Berkhampsted. Member, Waterways Freight Forum Board, for services to Inland Waterways.

Maj Neville Hogan, of Hemel Hempstead, for services to the Chindits Old Comrades Association.

William Patrick Kerridge. Campus manager, Sandringham School, St. Albans, for services to education.

Gertrude Dorothy Melsome, for services to the community in Bovingdon.

Anthony Perch, of Markyate, for services to The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

Maureen Ray, for services to the community in St Albans.

Marjorie Rose Reader, of Tring. Senior Personal secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Queen's Police Medal
QPM

Steven Bradley Read, Detective Superintendent, Hertfordshire Constabulary.