Peter Scott, a former editor of The Times Higher , was among a strong list of figures from higher education honoured by the Queen this new year.
The vice-chancellor of Kingston University was appointed KBE, as was Gordon Duff, medical research dean at Sheffield University, and John Tooke, dean of the Peninsula Medical School.
Sir Peter was editor of The Times Higher for 16 years until 1992, when he joined Leeds University as professor of education. He said he was "pleased and flattered. I see this great honour as a tribute to Kingston University's success."
The list, particularly strong in recognising contributions to science and medicine, also included John O'Reilly, the new vice-chancellor of Cranfield University, who was knighted for his work as chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Christine King, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University, was appointed CBE.
But the honours were not reserved for senior managers.
Cheryl Cunningham, who was appointed MBE, has worked for almost 40 years as a personal assistant or secretary to most of the senior members of Ulster University.
"I have never had such a shock like it in all my life," she said. "I feel I have been honoured for simply doing my job."
With a middle name of Maureen, Ms Cunningham was tickled by the idea that she resembles the fictional Maureen of Laurie Taylor's Times Higher column but was keen not to see the award trivialised.
"I have seen huge changes in the past 40 years," she says. "We originally worked in pre-fabricated buildings; I remember typing the new university's charter on an old typewriter on carbon paper."
Rob Jones, the chaplain of Roehampton University, was also honoured. He was appointed MBE. "These things happen to other people," he said. "I'm honoured and delighted."
KNIGHTS BACHELOR
John Richard Grenfell Bradfield , founder of the Cambridge Science Park and former bursar, Trinity College. Howard Dalton , professor in the department of biological sciences, Warwick University. Gordon Duff , medical research dean, Sheffield University. Malcolm Green , former vice-principal, faculty of medicine, Imperial College London, and head, National Heart and Lung Institute. John James O'Reilly , former chief executive, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Peter Scott , vice-chancellor, Kingston University. John Edward Tooke , dean, Peninsula Medical School.
ORDER OF THE BATH
CB
Colin Peter Hicks , former director-general, British National Space Centre, and member, Natural Environment Research Council.
DBE
Margaret Mary Douglas , CBE, fellow of University College London and professor emerita, department of anthropology. Ann Patricia Dowling , CBE, professor of mechanical engineering, Cambridge University.
CBE
Robert Royds Dickson , oceanographic and climate scientist, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. William James Feast , emeritus professor, Durham University. Kenneth John Gregory , vice-chair, Southampton Solent University Governing Body. Sheila Glennis Haworth , professor of developmental cardiology and head, cardiovascular and respiratory sciences, Institute of Child Health, University College London. Gordon Hewitt , professor of international business and corporate strategy, University of Michigan. Andrew Hopper , professor of computer technology, Cambridge University. Donald James Jeffries , professor of virology and head, department of medical microbiology, St Bartholomew's and Royal London Hospitals. Christine Elizabeth King , vice-chancellor and chief executive, Staffordshire University. Doreen McBarnet , professor of socio-legal studies, Oxford University. Anne Mills , head, department of public health and policy, health economics and financing programme, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Ioan Morgan , principal, Warwickshire College. Stephen John Nickell , warden, Nuffield College, Oxford University. Farhan Ahmad Nizami , founder director, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Barbara Ann Parfitt , dean, School of Nursing, Glasgow Caledonian University. Michael Henry Parkinson , director, European Institute for Urban Affairs, Liverpool John Moores University. John Douglas Perkins , vice-president and dean, faculty of engineering and physical sciences, Manchester University. Genevra Richardson , professor of law, King's College London. Michael John Snell , former principal and chief executive, Brockenhurst College, Hampshire. Malcolm Stuart Tanner , emeritus professor of paediatrics, Sheffield Children's Hospital. Stephen Tomlinson , former provost and deputy vice-chancellor, Cardiff University. John Wood , chief executive, Central Laboratories of the Research Council.
OBE
Brian Allan , former director, foundation degree development, Salford University. Muhammad Anwar , professor of ethnic relations, Warwick University. Ian Charles Bennett , principal and chief executive, Strode Tertiary College, Somerset. Peter Beresford , professor of social policy and director, Centre for Citizen Participation, Brunel University and chair, Shaping Our Lives. Douglas Frederick Boynton , principal, Telford College. Nicolas Milne Brown , principal, Oldham Sixth Form College. Margaret MacDonald Clark , emeritus professor of education, Birmingham University and visiting professor, Newman College of Higher Education, Birmingham. Richard Dyer , former director, Babraham Institute, Cambridge. Kimmy Ai Ngor Eldridge , professor and deputy head, department of health and human sciences, Essex University. William John Gillespie , former foundation dean, Hull York Medical School. David John Heaton , principal, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington. Joseph McKee , principal, City of Belfast School of Music. Geoffrey Peter Meen , professor of applied economics, department of economics, Reading University. Stephen Henry Miller , former deputy vice-chancellor, City University. Christopher Moody , principal, Moulton College, Northampton. Colin Douglas Alexander Porteous , senior researcher, the Mackintosh School of Architecture and the Glasgow School of Art. Keith Roberts , Norwich, Norfolk. David Michael Rowe , professor of thermoelectrics, Cardiff University. Richard Frank Verdi , professor of fine art and director, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham University. Jeffrey King Waage , professor of applied ecology, Imperial College London.
MBE
Cheryl Anderson , head of administration, School of Engineering, Cranfield University. Harold Bales , lecturer, gas industry training, New College, Nottingham. Peter Brian Barlow , former principal assistant, zoology department, Cambridge University. Michael Gerrard Martin Brennan , head of learning development, Queen Mary, University of London. Marianne Caffrey , IT systems engineer, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. Cheryl Cunningham , secretary, Ulster University, Coleraine. William Hugh Alexander Duncan , JP, college secretary and clerk to the board of management, Moray College. Ruth Durrell , administrator, Research Methods Programme, Economic and Social Research Council. John Anthony Ellis , head, technology exploitation division, space department, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Patricia Fry , head of education, training and careers, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. David Edward Highley , former minerals geologist. Jennifer Ann Hocking , associate dean, Warwick Business School. Edwin Gordon Jenner , council member, Natural Environment Research Council. The Reverend Robert Lynton Jones , univer-sity chaplain, Roehampton University. David Thomas Streeter . reader in ecology, Sussex University. Michael William David Wren , consultant microbiologist, University College London Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust. Francis Dudgeon Bailey Young , executive head, vice-chancellor's office, Queen's University Belfast. Nancy Vivien Wylie , regional director, AimHigher West Midlands. Evan Ross , former administrator, chemistry department, Durham University.
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND OVERSEAS LIST
KNIGHTS BACHELOR
James Fraser Stoddart , for services to chemistry and molecular nanotechnology.
Order of the Bath CB
Victor Gerald Bulmer-Thomas , OBE, director, Royal Institute of International Affairs.
CBE
Ian Gow for services to British education in East China. Christopher Brian Dyce Lavy , for services to orthopaedic care in Africa. Elizabeth Molyneux and Malcolm Edward Molyneux for medical services in Malawi. Colin Harold Robertson Niven for services to British education in China.
- Cold calling: Tavi Murray of Swansea University has been awarded a Polar Medal for outstanding achievement for her work in the Arctic and the Antarctic. She is only the eighth woman to be so honoured. Professor Murray, whose work centres on fast-flowing glaciers and ice streams, said: 'It is the same medal awarded to Scott and Shackleton, which is humbling. We do face some of the same challenges though - hungry polar bears, yawning crevasses and raging storms.' The medal was established in 1857