Lottery chief's CBE birthday gift

Dianne Thompson said she was honoured to accept the award

Camelot chief executive Dianne Thompson has described her CBE in the New Year Honours List as "the most terrific birthday present".

Ms Thompson, from near Beaconsfield, Bucks, who is 55 on 31 December, was made a CBE for services to business.

She has presided over the longest period of growth at the National Lottery in its 11-year history.

Under her control, the National Lottery has bucked the international trend of falling lottery ticket sales.

Last year money going to good causes was up by £60m.

'Terrific present'

Ms Thompson said: "I am very honoured to accept this award, which I do on behalf of everyone at Camelot, together with the charities and professional bodies I represent. It is also the most terrific birthday present."

The mother-of-one has introduced new games to the National Lottery, including Daily Play and EuroMillions.

Ms Thompson joined Camelot in February 1997 as commercial operations director - the first woman to join the board - and took over as chief executive in December 2000.

Ms Thompson is also on the Press Complaints Commission, the CBI President's Committee and chairs the Childline Foundation fundraising committee.

Other people living in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire to be given awards are:

Knights Bachelor: John Dankworth CBE, jazz musician, for services to music; Adrian Alastair Montague CBE, chair of British Energy, for services to the nuclear and electricity Industries.

CBE: John Robert Cridland, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, for services to business; Hugh Salusbury Mellor, chair of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, for services to nature conservation; Alan Ronald Cook, chief executive of National Savings and Investments; Anthony Richard Edwards, the head of Buildings and Estates Management, Home Office; Ila Dianne Thompson, chief executive of Camelot Group plc, for services to business;

OBE: Raymond David Cutting, engineering director of Marshall SV, for services to the defence industry; Dr Nazia Khanum for services to community relations and to equal opportunities in Luton; John Pashawar Singh, a member of the School Teachers' Review Body, for services to education; Jenifer Anne Cooper Baker, formerly head of Volunteering and Community Involvement at the National Trust, for services to heritage; Robert John Higgs, chief executive of Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association, for services to the environment; Dr Peter John Carter, chief executive of Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, for services to the NHS; Daniel William Joseph Galvin for services to hairdressing; Leroy Richard Arthur Kettle, a senior policy adviser on Disability Rights at the Department for Work and Pensions; Clive Warren, formerly head of Overseas Territories Department at the Department for International Development.

MBE: Richard Oliver Bennett, chair of Bedfordshire and River Ivel Internal Drainage Board, for services to flood defence; Alan Painter, JP, for services to the Administration of Justice in Bedfordshire; Robin Radford, parish councillor, for services to the community in Kensworth, Bedfordshire; Roy Harold, group manager, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, for services to the fire and rescue service; Sylvia Rose Parrott for services to East Africa through the charity Workaid; Nancie Elizabeth Ross for services to the community in Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire; Harold Sharpe, head coach, Special Needs Unit Gymnasts, for services to disabled sport; Paul Victor Wagstaffe, vice-president at Inland Waterways Association, for services to inland waterways; Brenda Margaret Bolton for services to ecclesiastical history; David Richard Donald Boyce, a station supervisor at London Underground, for services to public transport in London.

MBEs also went to: Thomas Vincent Goane, formerly general manager at Arriva London, for services to the bus industry; Leslie Robert Hodges for services to the community in Hitchin, Hertfordshire; Godfrey David Leak for services to Criminal Justice Agencies and to the community in Hertfordshire; Robert Charles Pepper, deputy head teacher at Dame Alice Owen's School in Hertfordshire, and director and conductor of English Schools Orchestra, for services to education and music; Mrs Angela Antonia Scarisbrick, practice educator for Advanced Nursing Practice at Great Ormond Street Hospital, for services to healthcare; Peter James Swan, paramedic and team leader in the Ambulance Service, for services to healthcare; Jean Gwendolene Thomas, head of nursing and counselling, Occupational Health, Metropolitan Police Service, for services to healthcare; Douglas Auburn Walker for services to the community in Dacorum, Hertfordshire; Mohammed Younis, postman, for services to charity and to the Royal Mail.