Pop princess Kylie Minogue and a cleaner from Dereham shared the limelight in the New Year's Honours list announced today .The Australian singer received an OBE after her brave battle with cancer inspired millions cleaner and school cook Dorothy Winner was made an MBE for a lifetime's work at the town's Northgate High School.

By EDP Reporters

Pop princess Kylie Minogue and a cleaner from Dereham shared the limelight in the New Year's Honours list announced today .

The Australian singer received an OBE after her brave battle with cancer inspired millions cleaner and school cook Dorothy Winner was made an MBE for a lifetime's work at the town's Northgate High School.

Mrs Winner, 71, who has worked as a catering assistant and cleaner at the school for nearly 40 years, said: “It is just unbelievable. It was completely out of the blue and I was so emotional when I found out. Who would have thought that an ordinary person like me would be made an MBE? I am no different from anyone else. I just do my job which I love. It is just me.”

National, TV chat show host Michael Parkinson was knighted while the smooth talking sports commentator Des Lynam gets an OBE.

Other celebs being honoured included Sir Ian McKellen, Julie Walters and English charmer Leslie Philips while many hardworking and unsung heroes of communities across the land were rewarded. Among them were people who responded to the summer flood crisis.

Norfolk's multi-medal winning shooter Mick Gault, who is England's most decorated Commonwealth Games competitor, was delighted to be made an OBE.

The 53-year-old said: “It is so exciting. It means the earth to me, not just for myself but for my sport which I dearly love. For a shooter to be made an OBE is quite special.”

Another community stalwart, Ronnie Mobbs, was made an MBE for services to young people after devoting almost 70 years to the scouting movement.

The married father-of-four said: “It came out of the blue and I really don't know what I have done to deserve it. I am very grateful, it's grand. It is nice to be recognised but the work has it has its own gratification.”

Former Lord Mayor of Norwich David Bradford becomes an OBE and dialysis support worker at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Sandy Lines, received a similar honour for her work to charitable services.

Mrs Lines said: “This news came completely out of the blue and I was very surprised to have been recognised for the work I just do every day. However without the support of my colleagues on the Jack Pryor Renal Unit at the NNUH and at UNKPA I would not have been able to provide the services I do therefore I feel I am collecting this MBE on behalf of them all.”

Professor Bruce Ponder, renowned the world over for his pioneering research into cancer genes, is knighted along with many others from the region who have worked tirelessly for the community, health services and in the world of academia.

William Roderick MacDonald, from Newmarket, chief executive of the British Racing School, for services to the horse racing industry and to disadvantaged young people receives an OBE.

Since establishing Norfolk's police authority, chief executive Chris Harding has overseen the force's transformation from a “chalk and slate” organisation to a truly modern law enforcement agency.

Mr Harding, made an MBE for services to policing, left Norfolk County Council to take up the post when independent police authorities were introduced by the government in 1994.

“Any achievements I've had have been down to working alongside a group of people who are committed to driving Norfolk forward,” he added.

Receiving MBEs are Prof Andrew Thomson, dean of the faculty of science at UEA for services to higher education; Olive Jennifer Loder Price, from Yarmouth, for services to HMP Blundeston in Suffolk; Peter Sindall of Old Buckenham for services to people with learning disabilities in Norfolk; pensioner Freddie Bacchus for services to the NHS.

A mechanic who has helped keep the Queen's farm machinery in good working order for the last two decades has been awarded a Royal Victorian Medal. Rodney Frohawk, 64, has worked as a mechanic on the Queen's Sandringham Estate since 1992.

Also included in the New Year's Honours list is the Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, General John McColl, CBE, DSO, who receives a knighthood.

Suffolk MBE recipients included quilt maker Lynne Edwards, from Ipswich, for services to arts and crafts; Ian Harwood, from Ipswich, president of The Lute Society, for services to musical heritage; Brenda Ince, from Newmarket, for services to football in Cambridgeshire; Susan Elizabeth Sida-Lockett, from near Stowmarket, for services to regional and local government in Suffolk; Leonard William Tate, from Colchester, chairman of the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust cardiology user group and vice-president of Heartbeat, East Suffolk, for services to healthcare; and Janet Williams, from Bury St Edmunds, education manager at HMP Highpoint, Newmarket, for services to education.