VISITS to Buckingham Palace are due for several Harrow residents who were named in The Queen's Birthday Honours.

Among those becoming an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) is Bill Ashton, of Victor Road, Harrow, who founded the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1965 and is now life president. His award is for services to music.

Similarly recognised is David Maurice, chairman of the governing body of both Kenmore Park Infants' School and Kenmore Park Junior School, in Moorhouse Road, Kenton, who has been recognised for his voluntary service to education.

Mr Maurice said: "I am disabled and do most of my work from my wheelchair or on crutches. I've been chairman for 11 years and a school governor for 15.

"My honour is testament to the unpaid work that every school governor does in the country."

Nominated to the same order for his services to the aviation industry is Ian Hutcheson, of Kynance Gardens, Stanmore, who is currently director of security for BAA Airports, which operates Heathrow, and chairman of the Airports Council International.

Pinner residents Dr Sukhbir Singh Kapoor, of St Thomas Drive, and Deepak Lalwani, of Tooke Close, also become OBEs.

Receiving his for services to community relations, Dr Kapoor is vice-chancellor of the World Sikh University and principal of Khalsa College London, a charity-run private college, both in Pinner Road, Harrow.

Mr Lalwani is director of Indian investments at stockbrokers Astaire and Partners and a member of the executive board of the UK India Business Council, and was nominated for his services to the financial services industry.

For her services to people with special needs, Beverley Smart, of Devonshire Road, Harrow, earns an OBE.

MBEs (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) are bestowed on Ronika Amin, of Shaftesbury Avenue, Kenton, who works at the Ministry of Defence, and Prakash Daswani, of Glover Road, Pinner, who receives his for services to the arts as the founder and chief executive officer of arts and education charity Cultural Co-operation, based in Shadwell, east London.

The Queen will present Hanan Ally Ibrahim, founder of the Somali Family Support Group and a resident of Manor Park Crescent, Edgware, with an MBE for services to black and minority ethnic people.