The chairman of the University of Sussex’s governing council has been awarded an OBE.
 

Simon Fanshawe received the gong for services to higher education in the New Year's Honours list published today.
 

He was one of 29 people from Sus sex honoured by the Queen this year.
 

Mr Fanshawe, of Kemp Town, Brighton, said he was shocked to receive notification of the award in the post – but said it was not simply for him.
 

He said: “I was completely taken aback. It was a wonderfully peculiar experience. “When it says for ‘services to higher education’, it means it is a recognition for all the people on the council and at the university.
 

“This is genuinely a tribute to what they have done to get the place fizzing again.”
 

Mr Fanshawe, 56, led Brighton and Hove’s bid for city status, founded the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, and is a non-executive director of the Brighton Dome and Festival.
 

East Sussex County Council leader Peter Jones was appointed a CBE for services to local government in the South East.
 

Coun Jones, 67, who represents Northern Rother for the Conservatives, has been leader of the council since 2001 and has also served as chairman of Sussex Police Authority.
 

He is retiring as a councillor in May.
 

Christine Forster, operations director of the Child Support Agency, was appointed a CBE for services to the transformation of the child support system.
 

Diane Martin, the former director of the charity Trust, was appointed a CBE for services to vulnerable women.