The Queen recognised several local people in her Birthday Honours list this week.

Gamekeeper Leslie Walter Strudwick, who has worked at Hampton Court Palace for 41 years, was awarded the Royal Victoria Medal. His job requires a huge knowledge of local wildlife.

He told the Surrey Comet: "I am really happy it has been acknowledged how long I have been working here for it is quite an achievement."

Gill France, from Thames Ditton, who promotes sex and drug education and deals with bullying and bereavement issues, was awarded the OBE for services to young people.

Yatish Patel, from Surbiton, has been made an MBE. He works as an administrative officer in the employment tribunal department in the Department of Trade and Industry.

Robert Douglas, from Walton-on-Thames, has been awarded a CBE for services to post-16 education and training. Mr Douglas, the chairman of the Learning and Skills Council Surrey, said: "I am privileged to receive this honour, although I also know that his would not have come my way had it not been for the hard work of everyone else at LSC Surrey."

Colin Petter, a member of the Acquisitive Crime Team at the Home Office who was born in Walton-on-Thames, was awarded an OBE.

And Chief Superintendent Ian Richard Boyes of the Metropolitan Police, also from Surrey, was made an MVO for his services to the Royalty Protection.