THEY were three among the hundreds rewarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

But they stand out among the mandarins, the famous people and the others from high profile roles who are named in the list today.

Foster carer Robert Goddard, from Peacehaven, scooped an MBE for his services to children and families.

He was joined by Patricia Weller from Portslade, whose voluntary and charitable work with the Hangleton and Knoll Project was acknowledged.

And Michaelina Argy, of Forest Row was made an MBE for services to thalidomide survivors, campaigning against governments in the wake of the 1950s drugs disaster.

Across Sussex a total of 44 people have been honoured in the list of accolades released yesterday.

Other MBE recipients include Valerie Maynard, who gives her time to HM Prison Lewes and was acknowledged for services to prisoners and their families.

Rowenna Woodward, of Copthorne, at just 29, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to young people through the Guide and Scout movements, including travelling to Ukraine in 2000 to demonstrate Girl Guiding, where it had been banned for 80 years.

She said: “As a youth member of the Guide Association I had some fantastic leaders who helped me to develop my skills and gave me many new experiences while having a lot of fun.”

Peter Hayman, of Northiam, also picked up a BEM for services to the community. When there was a serious fire in the village he was first on the scene, getting the community to help the unfortunate homeowners.

He has lived in the village since the early 1960s and served on many committees and local organisations.

Of the higher-profile winners, Julian Crampton, the vice chancellor of the University of Brighton, scored a CBE for services to higher education.

During Professor Crampton’s tenure, the university has seen growth that means it now supports more than 21,000 students and provides over 7,000 jobs.

Prof Crampton said: “I would like to think this is not just about me but a reflection of the hard work by a large number of dedicated people, past and present, who have helped build the University of Brighton into the great institution it is today.”

Elsewhere, Tony French got an MBE for services to the community of Chichester. The 82-year-old has been elected to both the city and district councils and served twice as mayor.

He played a leading role in securing a redundant Victorian building, called the New Park Centre, as a community and arts base in 1974.

He was also responsible for finding £300,000 to save the Chichester Festival Theatre from bankruptcy and closure in 1997.

Among the high-profile names on the list is former Sussex schoolboy Benedict Cumberbatch, who was awarded a CBE.

SUSSEX HONOURED

Knights Bachelor
Thomas Jeffery, Lewes, for services to the Department for Education

CBE
Jonathan Church, Chichester Festival Theatre, for services to the theatre
Professor Julian Crampton, University of Brighton, for services to higher education
Benedict Cumberbatch, London, for services to the performing arts and to charity
Alan Finch, Chichester Festival Theatre, for services to the theatre
Melanie Leech, Horsham, for services to the food and drink industry

OBE
David Burgess, Chichester, for services to young people and the community
Roderick Jones, Bognor, for services to the community
Desmond Lambert, Plumpton College, for services to land-based education and young people
Shelagh Legrave, Chichester College, for services to further education
Dr Hong Lu, Hove, for services to the Chinese community in the UK and community relations between the UK and China

MBE
Leslie Alden, Shoreham, for services to the community in Southwark, London
Michaelina Argy, Forest Row, for services to thalidomide survivors
Lorraine Brockhurst, Worthing, for services to young people in the workplace
Clare Collins, Haywards Heath, for services to education and school governance
Anthony French, Chichester, for services to the community
Jean Goad, Barnham, for services to local government
Robert Goddard, Peacehaven, for services to children and families
Trevor Green, Mayfield, for services to humanitarian aid through Operation Florian and to charity in East Sussex
Andrew Jackson, Wakehurst Place, for services to conservation
Valerie Maynard, East Grinstead, for services to prisoners and their families
Lorraine Mercer, Haywards Heath, for services to the community and to charity
Jillian Parker, Eastbourne, for services to children and adults with a learning disability and their families
Lloyd Richards, East Grinstead, for services to the community
Helen Kilbride-Roberts, Ditchling, for services to the arts and crafts
Iain Shepherd, Aldwick, for services to the marine sector and the economy
James Smith, Crawley, for services to the community
John Vincent, Horsted Keynes, for services to school food
Peter Webb, Worthing, for services to business and the community
Patricia Weller, Portslade, for voluntary and charitable services

BEM
Graham Carpenter, Crowborough, for services to young people and families
Joan Downing, Hastings, for services to rural inclusion
Myrna Festing, Rye, for services to the community
Lorraine Grocott, Milland, for services to the community
Peter Hayman, Northiam, for services to the community
Mary Howse, Rye, for services to the community
Josephine Hutchinson, Worthing, for services to the arts
Vernon Jennings, Barns Green, for services to the Barns Green Half Marathon and to the community
Claire Judge, Ashurst, for services to early years education
Peter Knowles, Pulborough, for services to the community
Mary Taylor, Etchingham, for services to the community
Susan Ward, Worthing, for services to children and the community
Rowenna Woodward, Copthorne, for services to young people

Queen’s Fire Service Medal
Gary Walsh, deputy chief fire officer, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service