THE FATHER of newly elected Reading West MP Alok Sharma has been appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Dr Prem Sharma, a vet, biologist, senior Conservative and adviser to world Governments, is honoured for services to community relations.
He has been involved in many aspects of civic life in Reading, including being a school governor, neighbourhood watch chairman, chairman of the patient care panel at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and was president, chairman and is now honorary life president of the Reading East Constituency Conservative Association, having been first elected to its executive council in 1977.
Made an MBE is Christopher Barrows, chairman of governors at Coombes Church of England Primary School in Arborfield, for voluntary service to education, and the same honour goes to Peter Carter for services to the community in Reading.
This year's Grand National winning jockey AP 'Tony' McCoy from Lambourn gets the OBE to add to his MBE for services to horse racing, while Newbury-based former BBC Nationwide and Panorama journalist and documentary maker Julian Pettifer is also appointed OBE.
Other Berkshire honours:
KNIGHTS BACHELOR
Hugh Stevenson, former chairman, Equitas Ltd, for services to the financial services industry (Ascot).
MEMBER OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER
Kevin Coulthard, deputy fire safety manager, Windsor Castle.
Barry Gomm, electrician, Windsor Castle.
ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL
Allen Gilbert, former team supervisor, Windsor Great Park.
Kenneth Lea. machinery operator, Crown Estate, Windsor.
CBE
George O'Grady, chief executive, Professional Golfers' Association European Tour, for services to sport (Sunningdale).
Mary Spinks, director, Florence Nightingale Foundation, for services to nursing. (Maidenhead).
OBE
John Dunningham, for voluntary service to tennis.
Barry Mussenden, deputy director, policy and strategy directorate, Department of Health. (Maidenhead).
MBE
Alan Carr, for charitable services (Ascot).
John Divall, corporate affairs director, South Central Ambulance Service, for services to the English ambulance service (Bracknell).
David Lister, for voluntary service to young people (Windsor).
Mary McCarthy, for voluntary service to Charlie's Angels Youth Fund-raising Group, Eton Wick (Windsor).
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