COMMUNITY stalwarts, education figures and a renowned horse trainer were among those in Suffolk recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Newmarket-based trainer Henry Cecil admitted he was ‘overwhelmed’ after being awarded a knighthood by Her Majesty, herself a keen horse racing fan.

But it was not just Suffolk’s celebrities that were hailed - a whole host of community figures up and down the county received recognition.

Chief among them was 84-year-old Ron Hepworth, who was awarded an MBE for his dedication to Woodbridge, where he has been involved in countless projects to help the community. The RAF veteran - who has helped organise carnivals and fetes in the town, been a voluntary driver and involved himself in several community groups - said he was ‘astonished’ by the news.

Equally dedicated to her community is Margaret Langton, who was awarded an MBE for her commitment to Chattisham and Hintlesham. The 67-year-old has focused her time on projects that bring people together, such as a monthly lunch clubs for a sheltered housing community.

Continuing the horse racing theme to the honours list in Suffolk, Jeremy Richardson, former chief executive of the Injured Jockeys Fund, was awarded an OBE.

The 67-year-old, from Kirtling, near Newmarket, said he was “thrilled”.

“It’s a huge honour, but not just for me but for the charity of which I was concerned for 40 years. That’s the Injured Jockeys Fund based in Newmarket and it is one of racing’s enduring success stories.”

He added: “While it is nice for me personally I also think it’s nice people in racing are being recognised because it is recognition for the important contribution racing makes to our way of life.”

In the education sector Aldeburgh-based Alison Blackburn, chair of the board of governors at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire, and Dr Ann Williams, principal of West Suffolk College, have been awarded OBEs.

Dr Williams was unable to comment yesterday because she was away on leave, but in the recommendation statement for the award it said she “had devoted her working life to the college”.

Meanwhile Professor Roger Boyle, who was the Government’s so-called Heart Tsar when Ipswich Hospital lost its emergency heart services in 2009, has been awarded a knighthood.

Suffolk health campaigner Prue Rush said: “I think this is an unsurprising recognition. There are so many people who don’t agree with the heart provision. Only time will prove whether or not he was right, but we still feel here in Suffolk that we are taking unnecessarily long journeys for our medical care and missing out on the golden hour for treatment.

“There are those of us who still feel we haven’t got the best arrangement in this situation, but obviously he’s done lots of good and clever things and made a contribution to the health of the county – but nevertheless Suffolk is still a poor county when it comes to health.”

Andrew Reed, chief executive of The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust said: “Professor Boyle is held in great respect and is a leader in his field, he fully deserves the honour”.

Meanwhile Eddie Stevens, director of housing services at the City of London Corporation, said he was delighted to receive an MBE.

“Not bad for a lad who left school at 15,” he said. “Seriously though, it is not down to me it is down to the fact I work with good people.”

Mr Stevens, 66, who lives near Haverhill, only went into local government after retiring as a businessman at the early age of 45. He is now responsible for the Barbican estate and 11 social housing estates in six London boroughs. He also works on sports development and tackling homelessness.