PEOPLE from Keighley and Craven districts are set to be honoured by the Queen in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List.

Recipients include people who have contributed to improving education provision for students, or to enhancing community facilities in the South Craven area.

Christopher Brown, of Keighley, will receive an OBE in recognition of his services to higher education.

He has been chair of council at the University of Huddersfield since 2004, and a member of the University Council since 1996.

Away from the university, he is chairman of Thermal Energy Ventures, based in Brighouse, and Heckmondwike-based Wakefield Acoustics.

He is also a director of Bluestone Films, based in Sutton-in Craven, and Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.

He is an active competitive swimmer with City of Bradford Swimming Club.

Receiving British Empire Medals will be Karen Cobb, also from Keighley, for services to the taxpayer in her role as regional operational leader at HM Revenue and Custom, and Gill Birks, for services to the community in Glusburn.

Mrs Birks, who was born in London but has lived in Glusburn since 1972, thanked those people who had put her forward for the honour.

She was a local councillor for about 20 years and also served as chairman on Glusburn & Cross Hills Parish Council.

She chaired the trustees of the village hall, Glusburn Institute, at a time when the management was in danger of collapse, its finances in a poor state, and the building was dilapidated.

Leading her fellow trustees and directors she turned this situation around, so there are now 30 user groups running weekly sessions and entertainment at the building.

She helped revive a luncheon club at Glusburn Institute, which continues today, and was chairman of South Craven over 50s Forum for about 15 years.

She has been a member of the Parish Planning Team, initiated a grant funded project in 2015 to establish the needs of elderly and disabled people in the community, then set up activities to meet those needs.

Since 2003, she has been chairman of Glusburn Community and Arts Centre.

Mrs Birks said: “There are many people in this area who deserve an award and I don’t think I’m alone in making a positive impact on the community.

“At Glusburn Community and Arts Centre we work very much as a team, and the progress we’ve made in getting the building to be used by more groups is the result of the hard work of a number of different people.”