Three local people were honoured in the New Year Honours list. An Up Somborne woman has been honoured with an MBE for her services to young carers in Hampshire, the Chief Constable of Wiltshire received the Queen’s Police Medal – and a civilian MoD employee has been made an MBE.

JENNY Frank, aged 57, has been working with the Children’s Society in Hampshire and nationally since 1995 and was involved in establishing the Winchester and Andover branches of Young Carers.

“It’s a real privilege to be given this and it’s only just starting to sink in,” said Mrs Frank.

“Although I have got the MBE it’s all about teamwork. We’ve developed such a strong team behind me, this wouldn’t have been achieved without them.

“What I’m also thrilled about is that it’s raising awareness of the needs of young carers.”

Mrs Frank found out in November that she had been nominated for an honour by the Queen, but was sworn to secrecy and only told her immediate family.

“It was so difficult not being able to tell certain people, but when I told my husband and three children we spent the whole day celebrating,” she said.

“The work by myself and my team in Hampshire has helped the development of services for young carers across the whole of the country.

“It’s not just great for me getting this MBE, but it’s so good for young carers in Hampshire because it raises the profile of their needs and the good work developed in Hampshire by all the project team.”

A military worker in Tidworth who also plays a leading role in informing the civilian community about MoD activities was made an MBE in the New Year Honours list.

Mrs Rosemary Meeke, who lives in Tilshead, has been the editor and mainstay of Tidworth’s Drumbeat magazine for many years.

The award also recognises her work with soldiers, encouraging them to send home recorded bedtime stories to their children while they are away on operations.