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Taking the honours
Six of the best in Beds recognised in Queen's New Year honours list
Marathon marvel Jude Cottam has been awarded an MBE for her services to healthcare.
Mrs Cottam, who lives in Bromham, worked for 19 years at Bedford Hospital as a nurse consultant in stoma care.
She has also been an active member of Bedford Hospitals Charity committee since 2005.
Mrs Cottam said: "I felt very humbled when they told me. I just did my job to the best of my ability.
"There are thousands of people who do an equally good job and don't get the recognition. So I just felt very humbled by the whole thing."
Mrs Cottam, who has two children and two grandchildren, joined Bedford Hospital in 1989. Before that she served in the British Army from the age of 17, serving in the Royal Signals and rising to the rank of corporal.
She retired as a nurse in 2008 but has remained an important member of the charity committee, including organising the runners who do the London Marathon on behalf of the charity.
Mrs Cottam added: "This makes me very proud, and I hope it is also recognition of the work done not just by me but by the whole hospital and staff."
The chief officer of Bedfordshire's special constabulary has been awarded an MBE.
Nigel Green was given the honour in recognition of voluntary service to the police across Bedfordshire in the Queen's New Year's honours list.
He has been a member of the special constabulary for 37 years, and now oversees a team of around 150 specials.Over the last year the volunteer force has been presented with two prestigious honours.
In July it collected the Ferrers Trophy Team Award at the Special Constable and Police Support Volunteers Awards from government minister Tony McNulty, as recognition of their crackdown on drug dens. The force closed six cannabis factories in six months, shutting down an operation worth 1.6 million a year.
And the force also won the national investors in volunteers award.
n A WOMAN who has dedicated her life to helping Bedford schoolchildren has been awarded an MBE.
Valerie Priestley, 59, of Cotman Close, Bedford,who has filled several roles at Edith Cavell Lower School during the past 24 years, has been recognised for her services to the school.
Until her retirement in August she worked as a teaching assistant, was the senior lunchtime supervisor and ran the breakfast club.
Mrs Priestley said: "I'm overwhelmed. The first I heard about it was when I received a letter from the Cabinet Office, which I thought was a joke.
"I did not think it was real until I saw the official list.
"I'm absolutely amazed, people have said, "Well you do a lot for the school," but to me I'm just doing my job."
The managing director of Millbrook's famous Proving Ground race track has been awarded an OBE.
Rodney Calvert, of Windmill Hill, Biddenham, was granted the award for services to the automotive industry. Millbrook is one of Europe's leading locations for the development and demonstration of every type of land vehicle, from motorcycles to military and off-road vehicles.
Parts of the hit BBC motoring show Top Gear are also filmed at the centre.
Mr Calvert is a board member of Renaissance Bedford, an informal partnership designed to help meet growth targets for new homes, jobs and infrastructure in Bedford.
He has also been associated with the Chamber, the chamber of commerce for Luton and Bedfordshire.
University chief Les Ebdon was made a CBE in the New Year's honours lists.
Professor Ebdon, vice-chancellor at the University of Bedfordshire, was recognised for his services to local and national higher education.
He said: "This was a bolt from the blue. It was difficult to believe, but I have had so many people calling to congratulate me that I suppose it must be true.
"We have a great team at the university, and on this occasion I just happen to be the person to take the credit."
Professor Ebdon joined the University of Luton in 2003 from the University of Plymouth and lives outside Hitchin in Hertfordshire.
Marcia Roberts has been awarded an MBE for services to diversity and the recruitment industry. Mrs Roberts, who lives in Bedford, was chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the trade body that represents the recruitment industry.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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