DR JANE BEAUMONT said she was 'delighted and privileged' to make this year's honours list.

Dr Beaumont, who lives in Ealing and is director of accreditation at the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, is being made an MBE for services to industry.

She said: "It is a recognition of the hard work and commitment of all UKAS staff in delivering the UK's national accreditation service. Accreditation is an increasingly important part of the business support infrastructure in the UK, helping to deliver confidence in goods and services."

Dr Beaumont began her career working as a food analyst before conducting doctoral and post-doctoral research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and King's College, London. She joined one of UKAS' predecessor organisations as a technical officer in 1987.

Lord Lindsay, UKAS chairman, said: "I am delighted that Jane's sterling work has been recognised."

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service assesses organisations that provide certification testing, inspection and calibration services.

MAKING the New Year Honours list was a shock to prison worker DAVID ASKER.

Mr Asker, who is head of learning and skills at HM Prison Wandsworth, said he was taken aback when he discovered he was to become an MBE.

The award is a fitting tribute to Mr Asker's dedication to his job as he spent more than 25 years helping offenders rehabilitate and make their way back into society.

He said: "I knew the list was coming out but when I found out I was completely shocked and taken aback. But to be nominated in the first place is a really, really nice thing for me and my family."

Mr Asker, who lives on the Goldsmiths Estate, in Acton, began at Wandsworth in 1985 after a stint at Wormwood Scrubs and got his start as a PE instructor. He said he has seen a lot of changes in the prison over the last 25 years.

He added: "One of the highlights for me has been seeing the switch from mundane workshops to vocational skill centres, teaching offenders skills that can help them start a new life."

Mr Asker, who is married, with one daughter aged 14, added his family were equally delighted at news of his award.

He said: "I think my wife and daughter are both looking forward to spending money on new dresses and they will both be at the party."

Mr Asker added he would like to thank his family for all their support.

EALING artist STEVE MCQUEEN is being honoured for his services to the visual arts.

Already an OBE, his CBE, the highest award received by a borough resident this year, will be the latest in a string of accolades.

In 1999 he won the prestigious Turner Prize for art and in 2008 his film Hunger, about the death of IRA prisoner Bobby Sands, won the award for first-time director at the Cannes film festival.

The film was acclaimed internationally and also won the Best Film prize at the London Evening Standard Film Awards in 2009.

Mr McQueen, who attended Drayton Manor High School, in Hanwell, also went to Iraq as

an official war artist in 2006.

His experiences resulted in the piece Queen and Country, where the faces of British servicemen and women who died in Iraq were portrayed on a sheet of stamps.

And he has also been asked to direct a biopic on the life and work of seminal African musician and activist Fela Kuti.

**Also receiving gongs were ALAN DAVID MURRAY, of West Ealing, who was made an MBE for services to deaf people and SONIA BROWN, of Greenford, who was also appointed an MBE, for services to black and minority ethnic women.

A COUNCILLOR has been made an OBE for his work building relationships and promoting the UK's interests in the Middle East.

ATALLAH SAID

has been praised for working for the involvement of Arabs in civic society, as well as for building Arab and Jewish understanding.

Mr Said (pictured), who represents the East Acton ward, said "I'm delighted to be given this great honour. I've done all I can to serve the Arab community and to be recognised in this way makes me extremely proud.

"I would like to thank all of my colleagues and I hope I will be able to continue my work within the Arab community and as a representative of the residents of East Acton."

A CHAMPION of the airlines has been appointed an MBE for decades of dedicated service to the industry.

JIM HUNTER, of Penn Close, Greenford, has worked in civil aviation for more than 40 years, and has been the general secretary of the Heathrow Airline Operators' Committee for almost seven of them.

Formerly an airline manager for British Airways, his current job involves making sure the voice of airlines is heard, such as when decisions are made

by the government or Heathrow operator BAA.

The 64-year-old who has also spent years helping the Scouts, the Brambles Outdoor Centre and other groups in his area, said he was shocked to receive the letter telling him of his award.

He said: "I was amazed. I just turned up and did my job every day. You don't imagine anyone is taking note like this. I'm really pleased.

"My wife's reaction was that it was time for her to get a new hat."