Fairgrounds, foot-and-mouth and education all figure highly in the Queen's birthday honours list in the North East and Cumbria.

Foot-and-mouth disease ravaged Northumberland and Cumbria, leading to OBEs awarded to individuals working in farming and tourism.

Education honours went to Sunderland headteacher David Wilkinson, who receives an OBE, and Cumbria teacher Jennifer Robertson, who gets an MBE.

One of the most unusual honour recipients was Valerie Moody, from Middlesbrough, receiving an MBE for services to education for the children of travelling showpeople.

I've heard the OBE referred to as Other Blighters' Efforts and I don't know of any case where that is true, except this one

Chris Collier, Cumbria Tourist Board

Chris Collier, the chief executive of Cumbria Tourist Board, is honoured for her services to tourism.

Ms Collier said the scenes in Cumbria during the epidemic were like a "war zone" and had had a "devastating" impact on tourism.

She told BBC News Online that it had been a tough year but hoped the honour also reflected work done before the epidemic.

"I've heard the OBE referred to as Other Blighters' Efforts and I don't know of any case where that is true, except this one.

"I couldn't have done my job, especially over the last year, without the team. This is a recognition for everyone."

Gordon Meek, of the National Farmers Union in Northumberland, also gets an OBE for his services to the rural economy in Northumberland.

Chris Collier: "Touched"

A sheep and pig farmer, he was instrumental in helping fellow farmers through the epidemic and the maze of legislation that surrounded it.

He said: "I feel quite embarrassed and surprised, but obviously honoured."

Valerie Moody is simply "Auntie Valerie" to the hundreds of children of travelling showpeople she has helped gain an education.

Mrs Moody was awarded the MBE for services to the education of traveller children.

Cancer blow

She has spent 12 years organising lessons for children of fairground workers as national education officer for the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.

She said: "I'll keep on doing this until I die.

"My father couldn't read or write and I left school at 13 without a single qualification.

"Now I spend my time teaching teachers who come on site to give lessons to the children of showpeople.

"I hope they'll just keep calling me Auntie Valerie after this."

Headteacher David Wilkinson's OBE for services to education with Pennywell School in Sunderland has been overshadowed by news he has cancer.

Mr Wilkinson, 57, from Shincliffe Village, has been forced to quit his post at the Wearside school to receive treatment.

But the man who saved the school from closure in 1987, says his health will not sour his albeit low-key celebrations.

David Wilkinson turned around Pennywell School

He said: "I've always made it clear what my philosophy is. That is that children should be engaged and encouraged.

"When I came to Pennywell, the school was near closure and had 600 pupils. Now we are a flourishing 1,200-pupil establishment."

Edwin Farr is "delighted and surprised" at his MBE for services to British stammerers.

The life-long sufferer, from Jesmond, Newcastle is proud the disability had been recognised with the award.

"I'm proud of my 12 years work with the British Stammerers Association and the role I've played in creating the European League of Stammering Associations.

"It's been a challenge for me as I have a full-time civil engineering job, but one I have greatly enjoyed."

Choose your county:

Northumberland

ORDER OF THE BATH

CB
Alastair Harkness Papps. Lately Associate director, Centre for Management and Policy Studies, Cabinet Office and Operational director, HM Prison Service. (Alnwick, Northumberland)

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE
Philip Barry Ashmore. Director, Nissan Motor Manufacturing Ltd. For services to the New Deal in Northumberland. (Morpeth, Northumberland)
Gordon Robert Meek. For services to the Rural Economy in Northumberland. (Ponteland, Northumberland)

MBE
Bryan Percy Beattie, JP. For services to the community in Bedlington, Northumberland.
(Bedlington, Northumberland)
Mrs Margaret Ellen Featherstone. For services to the League of Friends at Wansbeck and Ashington Hospitals, Northumberland. (Ashington, Northumberland)
Mrs Jocelyn Hilda Stephenson. For services to the community, especially the Citizens Advice Bureau, in Morpeth, Northumberland. (Morpeth, Northumberland)

Tyne and Wear

KNIGHTS BACHELOR
Robert William Robson, CBE. For services to Association Football. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE
Ms Pamela Elizabeth Buckley. Specialty manager, Urology and Renal Services, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Trust. For services to Health Care. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)
David Clifford, DL. Managing director, Port of Tyne Authority. For services to Business in North East England. (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear)
Anthony Denis Kennan. For services to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.
(Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne)
Gordon Neale. Chief executive, Disability Sport England. For services to Disabled Sport.
(Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear)
Mrs Margaret Edythe Stone. Lately Principal, Norham Community Technology College, North Tyneside. For services to Education. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)
Mrs Ruth Thompson. For services to the New Deal in Tyne and Wear. (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear)

MBE
Mrs Marion Chirnside. For services to the community in Benwell, Tyne and Wear. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)
Bertram James Culling. For services to the Sunderland Laryngectomee Club and to the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs. (South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear)
Edwin John Farr. For services to the British Stuttering Association and to the European League of Stammering Associations. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)
Gordon Ibinson. Chairman. For services to the Hylton Castle and Townend Farm Boys' Club, Tyne and Wear. (Washington, Tyne and Wear)

Durham

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE
The Very Rev John Robert Arnold. Dean of Durham. For services to the European Ecumenical Movement. (Durham)
Mrs Ann Dolphin. Deputy Change director, HM Board of Inland Revenue. (Darlington, Durham)
James Gordon Parker. Registrar. For services to the Public Lending Right. (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham)
David Wilkinson. Headteacher, Pennywell School, Sunderland. For services to Education.
(Shincliffe Village, Durham)

MBE
Mrs Sheila Ord Fabb. Lately Higher Executive Officer, Department for Education and Skills.
(Darlington, Durham)
Mrs Barbara Elizabeth Anne Robinson. Community Project manager, Blakeston Community School, Stockton-on-Tees. For services to Education. (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham)
Alastair Rodgers. Director, Northern Offshore Federation. For services to the Oil and Gas Industry in the North of England. (Darlington, Durham)
Kishore Devsi Shah. Environment Health and Safety manager, Terra Nitrogen UK Ltd. For services to Safety in the Fertiliser Industry. (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham)
Stephen York. Transport and Plant manager, Environment Agency. For services to the Environment. (Darlington, Durham)

Cumbria:

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE
Mrs Barbara Marion Stephens. Lately chief executive, Local Government Commission for England. For services to Local Government.(Workington, Cumbria)
Ms Christine Collier Chief executive, Cumbria Tourist Board. For services to Tourism.

MBE
The Rev Canon James Henry Baker. Founder, Whitehaven Youth Trust. For services to Young People in Cumbria. (Whitehaven, Cumbria)
Mrs Ella Cole. Lately Governor, Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary School, Cumbria. For services to Education. (Cockermouth, Cumbria)
James Rush Fyanes. For services to the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Cumbria. (Maryport, Cumbria)
Mrs Jennifer Margaret Robertson. Teacher, Petteril Bank School, Cumbria. For services to Education. (Carlisle, Cumbria)
Mrs Margaret Stitt. Chief Usher, Furness Magistrates Court, Cumbria. For services to the Court Service. (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria)