Queen's Birthday Honour for leading Peterborough businessman

Iain Crighton (61) said he was thrilled to receive the news following years of service to business and charities in Peterborough over many years.

Iain has been President of the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce since 2008 and is also the Chairman of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, and is a trustee for SportsAid Eastern whilst chairing the Peterborough SportsAid Foundation.

Today he said: “I was quite shocked to receive the news. I had not expected it. I was very surprised and very pleased.

“I had a letter from the Prime Minister three or four weeks ago telling me I had been nominated, and asking if I would accept - I said yes immediately - it would have been rude to the people who nominated me to turn them down, and I was very proud.

“I have not been able to tell anyone since I found out - only my wife knew, as she was there when I heard the news, and thought there was something wrong with me, so I had to tell her. There have been a few times when it would have been nice to say something, but I kept it a secret.

“I think I will keep my head down a bit over the weekend, and have the real celebrations when I go to pick up the award. I don’t know when or where that will be yet.”

There have been a number of stars of stage, screen, sport - and even space - who have also been given awards.

Veteran singer Rod Stewart and orbiting British astronaut Tim Peake are among 1,149 people to be acclaimed in the Queen’sBirthday Honours list.

Other well-known faces to be honoured include Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, TV duo Ant and Dec, actor Brian Blessed and actress Penelope Wilton.

London-born Stewart, 71 - full name Roderick David Stewart - received a knighthood for his services to music and charity.

In another record for Major Peake, his CMG - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - made him the first person to be honoured while in space.

Major Peake, awarded for space research and scientific research, said from the International Space Station: “I am honoured to receive the first appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George for extraordinary service beyond our planet.”

He added that the award was not just for him, and dedicated it to everyone who had made his mission possible.

Dame Vera, 99, joined the likes of Sir David Attenborough, Dame Maggie Smith and Stephen Hawking in becoming a Companion of Honour, as did former governor of the BBC, Lord Smith of Kelvin.

Ant and Dec received OBEs for services to broadcasting and entertainment, with Blessed receiving the same honour for services to the arts and charity.

A string of stars from the sporting world were also recognised for their achievements, with record-breaking England cricket captain Alastair Cook and former England football skipper Alan Shearer receiving CBEs for their services to cricket and charity, respectively.

Following Great Britain’s triumph in the Davis Cup, Andy Murray’s older brother Jamie Murray was given an OBE for services to tennis and charity, and Cup captain Leon Smith received the same honour for his services to the sport.