Tireless community workers, an influential farmer and champion of young people have today been honoured by the Queen.

They have taken their place among Olympic stars and celebrities in being recognised for their remarkable work in the New Year Honours.

Among them is former high sheriff of Cumbria James Carr, the Carlisle farmer who has also served as chairman of Cumbria Community Foundation.

He receives the OBE for services to conservation, education and the community.

And he said: "I am absolutely thrilled and proud to have received this honour. It was a lovely surprise and just so unexpected.

Mr Carr, who lives at Warwick-on-Eden, worked tirelessly for the Community Foundation up until 18 months-ago, and as trustee saw the county through the floods of 2005 and 2009.

He was also vice-chairman of the Rural Regeneration in Cumbria in the aftermath of the devastating foot-and-mouth outbreak that hit the county in 2001.

"This role was one of conservation. We were tasked with helping the farming and the rural community in general throughout Cumbria," added Mr Carr.

A former chairman of the Cumberland Building Society, he was nominated as High Sheriff in 2010. Previous to that he founded the Eden Rivers Trust.

"I watched it grow from one man and a spade to what is become today," said Mr Carr, who has built a wetland and classroom on his farm for the Trust to use on the educating of youngsters in the art of pond dipping and brass rubbing of the various insects that inhabit the wetland.

On the education side, the father-of-two has been on the council of Lancaster University for six years, and was vice-chairman of Newton Rigg, before it was taken over by Askham Bryan College at York.

Since the age of seven, Susan Aglionby, has always lived by the GirlGuiding promise to do a good turn every day and think of others before yourself.

And it is this belief that has earned her an OBE for services to young people and the local community in Cumbria.

But Susan, 72, who still farms the 36-acre former Gosling Sike Farm, renamed Susan's Farm, which she donated to Cumbria Wildlife Trust several years ago, says she regards her medal as a 'team' effort.

"I am amazed to receive this honour. It is in recognition of all the people who have influenced my life, and truly belongs to the community in which I live," said Susan.

As well as rearing cattle, sheep, geese and a few hens along organic lines, Susan also runs education tours around the farm for schoolchildren.

With its meadows, trees hedgerows, ponds and stream flowing into the River Eden, the site offers potential habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. "I gave it to the trust so that it will always be an organic farm and won't become a housing estate."

As well as being involved with the GirlGuiding movement as a trainer, Susan has also been a part of the Cumbria Community Foundation for nine years and was instrumental in helping with grants for communities hit by the 2005 and 2009 floods.

She was also involved with the charity Christian Aid and part of a group of five that built a youth club in Paddington.

The mother-of-two says she is so "embarrassed" at receiving the honour she has kept it secret from her children. "I said I would like to take them out to supper on Sunday, and I thought I would announce it then," said Susan.

Arthuret parish councillor Gordon Routledge, meanwhile is awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of a lifetime of service to his community,

Jennifer Foote, of Hutton Roof, near Penrith, has been awarded an MBE for services to further education (FE).

Mrs Foote isn't a familiar face at the front of any classroom but her influence over the sector stretches nationwide.

The 50-year-old married mother-of-two is heavily involved in governance and how colleges operate. She was clerk to the corporation board - the governors - at Carlisle College for almost a decade after moving to Cumbria from the West Midlands in 2003.

Then in 2013 she joined The Manchester College as company secretary and general counsel. Last Feburary her role was extended to encompass the whole of the new LTE group, which is made up of specialist organisations including The Manchester College.

She also holds several voluntary roles in the FE sector at a national level. They include being a member of the governors' council at the Association of Colleges (AoC). She also chairs the AoC's national clerks network. Her work has included developing high-level qualifications for clerks of college boards.

Mrs Foote, who has a law degree and a background in local authority governance, said: "I'm very fortunate that this is for me but I do accept this on behalf of the wider FE sector.

"This is a reflection on the importance of FE, which often gets lost a lot when focus is on university and schools. Everyday academia is moving forward but someone still has to train the mechanics, plumbers and nuclear graduates and that sometimes is missed.

"My absolute admiration goes to the lecturers in FE. I like to think that people like me and volunteers like governors give them the environment in which they can do their best."

She added: "I was surprised to hear the news; I certainly never expected to be receiving an MBE for services to further education when I joined the sector 13 years ago. The sector has grown and diversified so much just since I joined, but the fundamental element, and the reason I moved into the sector, remains the same – to give everyone the opportunity to continued access to education and training."

Mrs Foote received a letter from the Cabinet Office in mid-November revealing that the Prime Minister is minded to put forward her MBE nomination to the Queen.

News of the honour has delighted Mrs Foote's parents Alan and Jacqueline Crowe, of Dalston near Carlisle, as well as her family - husband Paul, who retired earlier this year from his high-level role at Eden District Council, and grown-up children Katherine, who is 26, and 24-year-old PhD student Alexander.

Years of dedication to the community of Rockcliffe earned Ann Hay royal recognition.

Her devotion to others has been rewarded with a British Empire Medal.

Running the bowling club, coffee mornings for the Rockliffe 'oldies', and creating floral masterpieces for the local church, are all part of the 75-year-old's life.

She loves the village, and still to this day lives in the cottage she was born in, but it is to her beloved husband, David, who passed away on Boxing Day, she wants to dedicate her medal to.

"He was my rock, and so supportive. If he was here today he would say how proud he was and envelope me in his big arms," said Ann.

Ann continued pulling the community together while nursing David, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

"It was hard, but it kept me going. I love this village. I went to London when I was 18 to work, but returned three years later. David and I married, and lived in the north-east for a while, before coming back in 1976 when David got a job on The Cumberland News," said Ann.

"I was so embarrassed when the letter came informing me of the honour. I pushed it into a drawer, but told David. I have since told my two daughters, Gillian and Wendy, and they are so pleased for me," added Ann.

"I just like to see the village pulling together, and help in any way I can. I persevered to keep everything going throughout David's illness, but it's been hard. But it's weird getting the honour. I'm not sure what it's for really."

Lindsey Jane Pownall of Penrith, received an MBE for services to business growth and productivity.

Elsewhere, Major Michael Thomas Bolderson of Millom, also receives an for services in support of defence equipment, the same honour that goes to Charles Richard Godwin of Grange over Sands, for services to charity. Charitable work has earned Frank Duncan Hamlett, of Carnforth, a BEM.

In Dumfriesshire, a BEM also goes to Leonard Bell, a drum sergeant with Langholm Pipe Band for services to music and the community. Renowned Lockerbie curling coach Marion Murdoch receives the MBE.