Lawrences among New Year honours

Neville and Doreen Lawrence each receive an OBE for services to community relations.

The vicar of Soham, the Reverend Tim Alban Jones, is honoured for his services to the village devastated by the deaths of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in the summer.

And the tireless campaigning of the widow of Brigadier Stephen Saunders, who was gunned down in June 2000 by Greek terrorists, is also recognised.

Others in the 2003 list - published on Tuesday - include sportsmen Steve Backley and Jonny Wilkinson, actresses Brenda Blethyn and Jean Simmons, and comedian Jasper Carrott.

A man who smuggled 669 Jewish children into Britain from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939 is given a knighthood.

Nicholas Winton, 93, kept his heroics secret for generations.

UK's 'Schindler' knighted

" I just saw what was going on and did what I could to help "
Sir Nicholas Winton

There are now about 5,000 descendants of the "Winton children" around the world.

Many other awards are given to people whose work is less in the public eye, including teachers and community workers.

Lollipop lady June Duggan, from Lymm in Cheshire, received an MBE for her services to the community.

Mr and Mrs Lawrence have campaigned for justice since their son was stabbed to death by racists in south London in 1993.

No one has been convicted of the crime, but their persistence led to a major inquiry into the police handling of the investigation.

The Macpherson Report dubbed the Metropolitan Police "institutionally racist" and sparked widespread reform.

'Tragic' episode

Mr Lawrence said he was accepting the OBE on behalf of his son and other black boys killed in race hate attacks.

"It is such a pity that I had to get something like this for such a tragic thing," he said.

He continued: "I just wanted to get answers about what happened to Stephen and hopefully other people will benefit from what we did."

Heather Saunders is rewarded for responding in similar fashion to her own personal tragedy - the murder of her husband, Brigadier Stephen Saunders.

She pushed for the killers to be hunted down and since the murder, 17 suspects from terror group November 17 have been arrested by Greek police.

Tim Alban, the vicar of St Andrew's Church in Soham, said he was accepting his MBE on behalf of the whole community.

He comforted the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and helped deal with the intense media attention focused on the Cambridgeshire village following their disappearance in August.

There is a knighthood for film director and producer Ridley Scott, who masterminded Oscar-winning blockbuster Gladiator and cult science fiction classic Bladerunner.

Other award winners

In sport there is an OBE for Sam Torrance who led the European Ryder Cup team to a surprising victory over the USA at The Belfry in September.

Jonny Wilkinson, the Newcastle Falcons and England fly-half, gets an MBE at the tender age of 23.

Javelin thrower Steve Backley and triple jumper Ashia Hansen receive an OBE and MBE respectively.

BBC cricket commentator Henry "Blowers" Blofeld, who has developed an inimitable style and devoted following over the years, is rewarded with an OBE.

In the world of showbusiness, actress Jean Simmons, now 73, receives an OBE after a career which began as a child star in the 1940s.

There is an OBE for actress Brenda Blethyn, who has long been a star of the stage and has two Oscar nominations for films.

An OBE also goes to Edward Fox, famous for starring roles in films such as The Day of the Jackal, A Bridge Too Far and The Duellists.

Carrott OBE

Alan Bates becomes a knight after a theatre and film career which most recently included a role in the acclaimed Oscar-nominated Gosford Park.

Comedian Jasper Carrott receives an OBE for charitable services.

Actor and director Brian Cox gets a CBE after a prestigious and continuing stage and movie career.

There are also a series of awards for those who worked towards the successes of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the Golden Jubilee celebrations.