VOLUNTEERS and charity workers are among those celebrating in the Queen’s birthday honours list today.

Diana Caldicott of Albert Road South, Malvern was made an MBE for voluntary service to the WRVS laundry service in the town.

Mrs Caldicott, aged 85, has been involved for 42 years and now runs the service for people who have been recommended by social services.

She said: “I was really thrilled when I heard about it. I was surprised because this all happens in a pretty quiet part of Malvern and we don’t get much recognition.”

There was an OBE for David Sparkes, of Droitwich, who is chief executive of British Swimming, the controlling body for UK watersports.

The honour is not bad for a man who as a 15-year-old who used to be a lifeguard at the Droitwich Lido.

“Obviously, I am delighted,” said the 62-year-old, who now divides his time between Droitwich and his family home in Germany.

“Swimming has come a long way since I joined in 1994. “We’ve had tremendous success at the Beijing Olympics and with world champion diver Tom Daley and there’s more to come.”

Also made an OBE was Helen Braithwaite. a resilience manager for the Midlands and east of England at the Government Office for the West Midlands. Mrs Braithwaite, from Droit-wich, was involved in strategic planning with councils, emergency services and health services for the Papal visit to Birmingham last year, and had input into the Civil Contingencies Act.

Paul Griffith, chairman of Worcester Municipal Charities, has been made an MBE for services to the voluntary sector.

The 68-year-old of West Malvern joined the WMC’s board of trustees in 1985 and has overseen a step-change in its fortunes.

The charity – which is little-known but one of the most important in the city – part-funds many of the better known organisations in Worcester including Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Mr Griffith, a former King’s School pupil, said he was “delighted” with the honour.

The charity made £370,000 of donations to charities and needy people last year, with the remainder going to buy new property and refurbishing its almshouses and other buildings.

Debra Taylor has beenmade an MBE for her work as a disability employment advisor at JobCentre Plus in Kidderminster.

Mrs Taylor, originally from St John’s, Worcester, is passionate about the work she does but never expected to be recognised for it.

“If you care about something and are passionate, it doesn’t feel like work,” she said. “The MBE is such a shock. My cheeks keep going up – I keep expecting someone to jump out and say it is not true. This doesn’t happen to me, I’m just Mrs Average.”

Julie Kirby has been made an MBE. She has been a foster carer for the last 40 years, and works with Droitwich-based Children’s Family Trust offering care for children nationwide.

Mrs Kirby, aged 66, of Horney Common, West Sussex, has worked for the trust since 1979 because it offers a “family for life”

Andrea Maddocks, the founder and chief executive of Mentor Link which works in 13 schools in the Wyre Forest, Worcester and Redditch areas, has been made an MBE for services to young people in schools and work in the charitable sector.

“I am delighted and deeply touched to receive an MBE,” she said. “I am passionate about supporting the needs of the young people by providing them with a volunteer mentor, should they need it.”

A total of 965 people are awarded honours in the list to mark the Queen’s official birthday, of whom 74 per cent are “local heroes” who have carried out unsung work serving their communities.