It’s a birthday honour for us

Rescue leader Phil O’Brien dedicated his MBE to his team, saying: “You can’t do what we do on your own.”

Explaining he was a little overwhelmed by the honour, he said: “I feel there are more deserving people than me. It’s a fantastic honour, I’m lost for words. But this is down to the team.”

Another well known local figure, Graham Carter Curwen, was awarded the MBE for public services to health and to the community in Pilling.

Meanwhile, Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday List too – just weeks after he was toppled as leader of the County Council.

Coun Driver gained a CBE for his services to local government after half a century as both an officer and an elected member.

The host of Lancashire recipients in the honours list included cyclist Peter Ward, the man behind the Preston Guild Wheel cycling route, who will now become an MBE.

The birthday honours announcement followed shortly after another high-flyer - Stephen Henwood of Hothersall, near Ribchester - attended Buckingham Palace to receive the CBE he was awarded for his services to the nuclear industry and charity in the New Year Honours. He is pictured with wife the Rev Gill Henwood, Rector of Ribchester, after receiving his honour from the Queen on Thursday June 13. Stephen is curre ntly chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning authority.

Two members of staff at the University of Central Lancashire – safety, health and environment manager Christine Edwards and journalism lecturer Matt Horn – are also rewarded with MBEs.

Four police officers – a detective from Lancaster, a PCSO from Morecambe and two volunteers from Kirkham and Blackburn – won gongs.