NICK Buckland from Boyton and Zena Jones from Rilla Mill were among those named in the New Year's Honours list.

Mr Buckland was awarded an OBE for services to Technology and Innovation. He is a board member of the Technology Strategy Board, South West Regional Develop­ment Agency and Chairman of Tamar Science Park, and became Chair of Governors of the University of Plymouth on January 1.

Since 1989, Mr Buckland and his wife have run a working organic farm in Cornwall.

Commenting on the award Mr Buckland said: "I'm honoured to receive this award, technology and innovation are important for us all and they are doubly important in the current financial climate — where the knowledge economy offers hope of high value, sustainable jobs — especially in Cornwall."

Having been a mathematician, Mr Buckland worked in the computer industry for many years. He is a strong advocate of mathematics, the sciences and engineering and feels that they need be promoted more in schools.

'Post' correspondent Zena Jones from Rilla Mill has been awarded an MBE for voluntary service to her community.

Zena was born in St Neot in 1942 and moved to the Linkinhorne Parish in 1947. She married in 1968 and has lived in Rilla Mill ever since.

Zena's parents were involved in village hall and church fundraising, so grew up in a busy household. Her father, Ron Stephens, was a founding committee member of the Rilla Mill Victory Hall, and her late husband Robert Jones was chairman.

Her son, Ian, is the third generation of the family still to be involved with the hall, and Zena, herself, has been a hall committee member for 25 years and secretary for 20 years.

She has been a Linkinhorne Lunch Club helper for 25 years; she re-started the senior citizens club in 1988, and has been a WRVS member since then.

In addition, Zena has been involved with the Tuesday Trekkers walking group since 1991, has carried out Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal house to house collections for 25 years and has been a member of the church handbell team for 20 years.

She has been the Linkinhorne parish correspondent for the 'Post' since 1990, taking over the role from her father.

Zena has taken part in a number of sponsored walks for the village hall and church funds, and she also helps with church fundraising.

Her other activities include being the secretary and distributor of The Link, the parish magazine, and she told the 'Post' that she feels passionate about the Linkinhorne Parish as well as her village of Rilla Mill and collates any news or history she can find.

"Team work is important," she added. "I have great support from neighbours and friends who find themselves involved in a project with me — thinking they have come here for a quiet life!

"I feel it is important to help in a community to keep it an interesting place in which to live and to put a smile on someone's face is even better!"

Zena still finds time for Dartmoor letterboxing, visiting antique fairs, holidays and visiting family in Plymouth and Oxfordshire.

She said she was "over the moon" at receiving the MBE. Although she knew from November 20, she managed to keep it a secret until December 31.

That day, the phone didn't stop ringing, and Zena added: "The 31st was just mad. My neighbours were excited and came in to see me. It was just a brilliant day."

Stephen Otter, the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Chief Constable, was awarded the Queen's Police Medal.

Mr Otter said he was "delighted" with his award and had been "very privileged to have been given the opportunity to be the Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary."

He added: "I am extremely proud of what my officers and staff are doing to deliver a high quality policing service to the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

"I look forward to continuing our work towards making the Force area an even safer place to live and work."