IN Worcestershire, today, the folk taking well-earned calls of congratulations include people working long, dedicated hours in six different walks of life.

Their moment of just glory continues former Prime Minister John Major's 1993 pledge that "ordinary people" should take their place in the twice-yearly honours lists.

The eight people honoured this time have stories of selfless devotion or single-minded endeavour to tell and, as ever, anyone working in their respective fields - in essence training, the emergency services, education and the community - has a right to feel some reflected pride after reading our reports on Pages 4 and 5.

But we can't let the occasion pass without regretting some omissions.

Back in 1993, we remember cricketer Harold Larwood being honoured 60 years after reaching the pinnacle of his career. Today, Welsh soccer legend John Charles - whose final years in soccer were spent managing Hereford United - is made a CBE.

It's criminal that a man who contributed so much to his profession and his country should have been overlooked for so long. Better late than never, though.

The greatest bewilderment, however, is the fact that no one from Herefordshire appears on the list at all.

We can't believe that there isn't one school cook or road-sweeper, a long-serving bobby or a charity fund-raiser who deserves to be recognised.

Likewise, it's astonishing that there isn't one teacher among the deserving recipients. Why?

We can think of numerous people whose dedication to their schools and their students - and, thus, the community at large - warrants a place among the great and the good.

To them we say "well done" anyway. Let's view this year's honours as an award for all who remain committed to their field of expertise and their fellow man. We should all strive to be more like them.