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Honours list: TV star Hilary Devey 'flattered and flabbergasted'

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Businesswoman and former Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey says she is "flattered and flabbergasted" to be recognised in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list. Ms Devey has been awarded a CBE for her work in business and charity. She thanked the people of Leicestershire for ensuring the success of her business, Pall-Ex, in Ellistown. She said: "This is a great honour. I am equally flattered and flabbergasted. "It's wonderful to receive such recognition. "I dedicate my honour to the charities I've tried to support, as well as to the lorry drivers, fork-lift truck drivers and everyone else who works in the logistics sector. "I would like to thank the people of Leicestershire, where my business has been based for 17 years." A top police officer who heads up a team tackling serious crime across the East Midlands has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal. Deputy Chief Constable Peter Goodman, of Snarestone, near Measham, leads a collaboration of five regional police forces and heads the East Midlands Special Operations Unit in investigating serious crimes such as murder, organised crime and terrorism. Commenting on his award, Mr Goodman, 47, said: "It was unexpected but I'm absolutely delighted. "After 25 years with the police, it is a very proud moment in my career, not just for myself but for my family too." Mr Goodman's father, Canon Derek Goodman, former Diocesan Director of Education for Leicester who lives with his wife, Margaret, in Ashby, said: "We feel really chuffed for Peter. He's worked very hard in the police, rising up the ranks to reach where he is now. "He is highly respected and we are very proud of him." Mr Goodman, who is a life-long Leicester City fan and season ticket holder at the King Power Stadium, began his career with Nottinghamshire Police before joining West Midlands, where he was divisional policing commander for Birmingham city centre. He became Assistant Chief Constable for Derbyshire in 2007 and was appointed Deputy Chief Constable for the East Midlands in 2010. Prominent businessman Shahid Sheikh, has been awarded an OBE. He is managing director of Clifton Packaging, in Leicester, and former Leicestershire chairman of the Institute of Directors. The honours list includes British Empire Medals (BEM) for people who have played a part in changing Leicestershire and Rutland for the better. Geoff Rowe received his award for founding Leicester Comedy Festival. Geoff said: "I'm delighted. It's really nice to be honoured in such a way. "The festival only works because so many people support it and get involved in what we do every February – local people and organisations as well as national ones. "It's an opportunity to celebrate those people as much as me individually. It's nice recognition. Donald and Doreen Clinton-Smith received BEMs for their services to the community in Market Harborough. They founded a youth club and Clockwise Credit Union and led the campaign to turn Market Harborough into a Fairtrade town. Doreen, 85, said: "We were amazed. We thought we were ordinary people doing the same as anyone else. We have no idea who put us forward. "We started the Methodist youth club in the 1950s and that's still going on. "It was really welcome at the time because it was somewhere for young people who didn't have much to do. "But with that and the Fair trade town and the credit union, we couldn't have done it without the people around us. "You need a very good team to make any of these things work." Leonard Bale, 84, of Lubenham, received the BEM for 40 years of service to his community. He has been chairman of Lubenham Village Hall Committee since 1972 and caretaker of the hall since 2003. He oversaw the building of the village hall, which involved raising £250,000. Leonard, an architect, designed it free. He is working on a design for an extension. He is also a church organist, a youth club leader and chairman of Lubenham Drama Group. He said: "I don't really know quite how I got it or what I've done to deserve it. I don't think I do any more than anyone else. "I got the letter from the Cabinet Office telling me about it a few days ago and it hasn't sunk in yet. I'm staggered." Alison Smith, 58, of Ravenstone, was made an MBE. She is the best-selling author of The Sewing Book and has been teaching sewing and corsetry for nearly 40 years. Her book has been translated into 11 languages and sold 200,000 copies, making it among the most popular crafts book of recent years. She said: "It's a little bit overwhelming. It was a total surprise to me." Alison is also deputy leader of North West Leicestershire District Council. Her MBE is for her work teaching sewing. "What I've tried to do is bring to home sewers techniques that are used in the industry," Alison said. "They're techniques you would never pick up from books or at evening classes." Alison was a textiles teacher before starting a bridal gown business in 1983. In 1992, she returned to teaching to run Alison Victoria School and Alison Victoria Fabulous Fabric. The school is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and was the first in the UK to teach corsetry at City and Guilds level. Marita Nibbs, 47, of Wigston, has been made an MBE for her work as a trustee of Home-Start, in Leicester. During 20 years with Home-Start, she has supported 12 families in the city for periods of between a few months and several years, spending two to three hours each week with the family and helping with their emotional and practical needs. According to her citation she has "exemplified the Home-Start model of befriending families in the community, identifying areas where she can offer support and modelling behaviour with young children that demonstrates positive parenting". At Christmas 2009, when Home-Start Leicester was low on staff and looked unlikely to be able to put on its annual Christmas party, Marita stepped in to organise it herself. Speaking about her MBE, she said: "I'm still a bit shocked by the whole thing. "It is like winning the lottery. I wasn't expecting it at all. "I thought it was a joke when I got the letter. I rang the number on the letter and told them about this gimmicky letter and they said they got a lot of calls like mine but that I really was on the honours list." Wayne Natzel, 34, of Eyres Monsell, received a BEM for his work as chairman of Eyres Monsell Community Association. He has chaired the association since 2009 and with Leicester City Council to give the association more of a role in the community. He has set up a lunch club for the over-50s, runs a film project and is instrumental in the annual Monsfest music event. He said: "I have a young family myself and I've been fighting to make Leicester a more enjoyable place for families to live. "I think this is recognition of that and it feels good to have that recognition."Others in Leicester and Leicestershire to receive awards OBE Michael Davies, Burbage, chairman of The Royal Mint and Manchester Airports Group. James Mutton, former principal, Loughborough College. MBE Anne Dames, Clawson, Hose and Harby Parish Council. Claire Henry, director of the National End of Life Care Programme, Uppingham. David Hill, director of Olympic Operational, Waltham on the Wolds. Linda Kirk, of Loughborough, former regional chairman of the Conservative Party. Heather Luckman, senior executive officer Benefits Directorate, Hinckley. BEM Ettrick Humphreys, volunteer, with Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust, for services to the community. Mavis Mason, services to the community in Charnwood. Caroline Mary Townsend, of Thringstone, services to charitable fund-raising.

Honours list: TV star Hilary Devey 'flattered and flabbergasted'


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