A former Cumbrian man has been awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours.

Dr Stan Higgins, who recently retired as chief executive of the North East of England Process Industry Cluster, was recognised for his work promoting the UK chemical process manufacturing industry, including chemicals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Dr Higgins, 64, was educated at Valley Junior School in Mirehouse, Whitehaven Grammar School and Whitehaven's West Cumberland College, before embarking on a university career.

He played a major role in the Redfern Inquiry in 2010, which was launched to investigate the practice for almost three decades of removing body parts from nuclear workers by doctors to test them for radioactivity.

Dr Higgins was one of the spokesmen for the families affected, as his father, also called Stan, had body parts removed after he died, aged 50.

The inquiry revealed that almost always, families were not consulted.

As a young laboratory technician at BNFL Sellafield in the 1970s, Dr Higgins was named its best under-21 employee, securing a scholarship to attend the University of York.

A football fan, he is a Workington Reds supporter and played in local teams, including Mirehouse FC, Gosforth and Cleator Moor St Mary’s.

Dr Higgins, who grew up in Mirehouse, said: "I am delighted to receive this unexpected honour. I recognise that it is an accolade reached by standing on the shoulders of many mentors and colleagues that have encouraged me throughout my 48 years in the industry."

Dr Higgins is an honorary fellow of the University of York and sits on the board of the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration based at the university, actively promoting their Children Challenging Industry educational programme.

He is currently a non-executive director at Industrial Technology Systems Limited, NEPIC Limited and RTC Limited.

He is a senior advisor to Tradebe Limited, a growing speciality chemicals company and SAS–JMP a provider of statistical analysis software.

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and an associate fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

In November, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Chemical Industries Association for his contribution to the sector.

His sister Sandra and father-in-law Harry Roberts live in West Cumbria.

Dr Higgins said: "I'm still a regular visitor to West Cumbria to see my family."