Dame Jocelyn tops Queen's honours

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Sixty-eight people from Northern Ireland have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell was made a dame and senior civil servant Stephen Leach was made a Companion of the Bath.

Thomas McGrath of the NI Tourist Board and Dr Jane Wilde of the Institute of Public Health become CBEs.

Among the 15 people appointed OBEs were Ulster Orchestra chairman Tom Collins and Methodist pastor Gary Mason. Some 48 people in total became MBEs.

Jocelyn Bell discovered the first radio pulsars with her thesis advisor Antony Hewish. Her name appears on the London list of Birthday Honours.

Among those appointed an MBE were pensioner Edward Joseph Cooper from east Belfast, who has bought and distributed toys and gifts to underprivileged children at Christmas for the past 54 years.

Former Irish international hockey player Lynsey McVicker, 33, was honoured for her contribution to the sport. She is thought to be the youngest recipient of an award.

<a class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6757885.stm">Full list of NI awards</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6757709.stm">'Secret Santa' honoured</a>

The Belfast woman played on the Irish team for over 12 years, representing Ireland in two World Cups, three Olympic qualifying tournaments and four European Championships - in all - winning more than 150 caps.

AT 88, Martha Thompson is the oldest recipient for her charity work.

OBEs also went to Dr Mark Sweeney, managing director of FG Wilson, for his services to industry and commerce; Mrs Isobell Wilsdon, for services to the Red Cross and Professor Srinivasan Raghunathan for services to research in aerospace engineering.

Within the Police Service of Northern Ireland there was an OBE for Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan, and MBEs for Detective Inspectors Paul Corbett and Neal Graham.

The Queen's Police Medal was awarded to Chief Superintendent David Boultwood, Detective Inspector Michael Wilson and Sergeant Allan Jones.