Maybe it's because he's an MBE that he is so delighted. Hubert Gregg, 87, has been honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to radio broadcasting and songwriting.

His songwriting credits include the penning of such classics as Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner and I'm Going To Get Lit Up When The Lights Go Up In London.

His voice has been a soothing sound on BBC Radio Two for the past 30 years on his show Thanks For The Memory.

He is among people from all walks of life who have been honoured by the Queen for their dedication to entertainment, sport and the community.

Others were decorated for their contribution to industry, education and charities.

Mr Gregg, of Kings Drive, Eastbourne, said: "I am very happy - who wouldn't be? It's nice to hear someone's thinking of you."

On top of his career in songwriting, Mr Gregg has many more credits to his name in other branches of the entertainment industry.

As a director, he directed Agatha Christie's first stage success, The Hollow, and made his first radio broadcast in 1934.

He and his wife Carmel recently completed a musical about the life and times of 18th Century playwright and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

The woman called "Mrs Whitehawk" for her work in helping to regenerate the Brighton estate was also awarded an MBE.

Faith Matyszak, 70, has lived on Whitehawk Estate for 34 years, bringing up four children and helping hundreds of residents.

Even though she should have officially retired five years ago, she is busier than ever, often starting her working day before 8am.

In the last three months she has put in more than 1,000 hours in voluntary time serving the interests of the community she loves.

The great-grandmother was the prime mover in setting up the Whitehawk Community Development and Safety Project, which provides help and information for community groups.

It has the funding for just one member of staff so she comes in each day to work the phones.

Mrs Matyszak, who was nominated for one of this year's Argus Achievement Awards, said: "I didn't know for sure I had got this until The Argus rang me.

"The way I'm looking at it is that it's not just for me, it's for my community because anything I try to do is for their benefit.

"I feel all my friends and neighbours have earned it for me.

"To have anything offered to this estate is a positive thing. I don't think there are that many MBEs in Whitehawk so this is for all of us."

Mrs Matyszak will receive her honour from the Queen within the next three months but it will not be their first meeting.

She said: "I met her when she visited the Corn Exchange in Brighton last year.

"I went to curtsy and almost fell over. She was more concerned about me tripping over than anything.

"This time I'll try to stay on my feet."

Mrs Matyszak is not the only 70-year-old community worker to be honoured in the list.

Barbara Summerfield, from Telscombe, gets an MBE for her work as a Brighton JP, her help for the British Red Cross and as a fund-raiser for the children's charity Activenture.

She worked for many years as a dental nurse for East Sussex County Council going round schools and for six years at the Morley Street clinic, Brighton.

Mrs Summerfield has been married to Gerald, a former mayor of Telscombe, for almost 50 years.

During her 11 years working for Activenture in Sussex, she was successful in raising £25,000 each year.

She said: "You always read about deserving people getting honours but when it is you personally you begin to think there must be others who deserve it more."

Ian Church, of Fulmar Drive, East Grinstead, has been made a CBE for his work as editor of Hansard, the official reports on the House of Commons.

Mr Church, 60, who is retiring in October, said: "I must say I am very surprised but am pleased and it is nice.

"It has been enormously fun working for Hansard. You are right in the middle of things, right at the heart of political arguments and discussions and it is a great experience."

He has been a journalist for 38 years. He joined Hansard in 1972 and has edited it for the past 13 years.

David Marchant was made an MBE for his work as manager of machinery and turf maintenance at Wakehurst Place, Ardingly.

Ian Plenderleith, 60, of Petworth, who retired in May from his post as executive director of the Bank of England, is made a CBE.

Married with three children, Mr Plenderleith joined the bank in 1965 and between 1972 and 1974 was seconded to the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

David Huxstable, from Chichester, is awarded the MBE for services to the Victim Support Scheme.

He is a member and former chairman of an independent committee which allocates Home Office grants to help volunteers who work with the victims of crime.

Money from Mr Huxstable's committee has helped expand the service, which now works in courts providing witness support.

From 1974, until he retired in 1992, Mr Huxstable was head of the West Sussex Probation Service.

Michael Webb, from Worthing, is awarded the OBE for many years of service to the London headquarters of the St John Ambulance Brigade.

He was the organisation's Deputy Chief Commander until his retirement earlier this year.

Jean Ensing was celebrating her CBE in hospital after a recent hip replacement operation.

She is a former president of London-based charity The British Association of Early Childhood Education.

The organisation provides support for teachers and nursery staff, working with children up to the age of eight, and promotes best- teaching practices.

Mrs Ensing, from Bognor, is now vice-president of the organisation. She is a former headteacher, who has also worked as a school inspector.

She said: "The award is a tremendous tribute to early education and all the work done by the charity over many years."

Other honours were given to Graham Hooker, from Bexhill, head of detection for HM Board of Customs and Excise, who was made an OBE; Edward Weir, from Hastings, senior environmental test engineer, who was made an MBE for his services to the defence industry; Janice Baker, from Pett near Hastings, an executive officer of the Child Support Agency, who was made an MBE.

Michael Garnett, from Eastbourne, area director of the HM Board of Inland Revenue, who was made an OBE; Leonard Norman, from St Leonards, an investigating officer for the Department of Trade and Industry who was made an MBE;

Timothy Morris, from Haywards Heath, a senior manager of the lifer unit for the HM Prison Service, who was made an OBE; and Gurdev Kalsi, a JP from Crawley, was made an MBE for services to the Sikh community in the town.