HAMPSHIRE County Council’s director of Children’s Services has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Welcoming the news of the gong for Steve Crocker, county council leader Roy Perry said: “Our congratulations go to Steve for this well-deserved honour. We are extremely proud of the high esteem in which Hampshire’s Children’s Services are held nationally and Steve does an excellent job in leading the department and ensuring we are doing the very best that we can for children in Hampshire. Equal to this is his leadership of Children’s Services on the Isle of Wight, as a strategic partner.

“He has made an enormous contribution to leading the consistent improvement of outcomes for children in the two authority areas. He is also highly respected nationally and is regularly consulted for his views by the Department for Education.”

A proud Mr Crocker (pictured) said: “This was wholly unexpected and an amazing surprise and privilege. One thing I would like to make clear is that I very much see this honour as recognition of all the fantastic work that my colleagues in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight do every day.”

The Queen’s Honours recognises people who have made achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain, making life better for other people. The OBE awarded to Mr Crocker is in special recognition for services to children in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.

In addition to his wide range of responsibilities, which include education, and the safeguarding of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s most vulnerable children, Mr Crocker plays a leading role in the improvement of Children’s Services in other local authorities such as Torbay, Devon, and Buckinghamshire.

He is also a key influencer nationally, being called upon regularly to contribute to the shaping of policy on areas such as adoption, social work reform and innovation at national level. Mr Crocker also chairs the standards, performance and inspection policy committee for the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.

Meanwhile, three people from East Hampshire have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Dr Joan Webber, principal pathologist for forest research (centre for eco-systems, society and bio-security) at Alice Holt Forest has been awarded an OBE for services to tree health. She is joined by Dr Rosemary Irwin, chairman of trustees at the Gilbert White Museum and Oates Galleries, who has been awarded an MBE for services to education and to the community in Selborne.

And Petersfield man David Compton, a volunteer warden at Old Winchester Hill National Nature Reserve, has picked up a British Empire Medal for services to nature conservation.

The birthday honours recognise people across the UK.

A Cabinet office spokesman said: “Each recipient exemplifies the very best of our nation - from our oldest recipient, 103-year-old Rosemary Powell receiving an MBE for her charitable service, having spent over 97 years volunteering for the Royal British Legion, to the youngest at 20, Menna Fitzpatrick. Team GB’s most decorated winter Paralympian, receives an MBE for her services to paralympic winter sport alongside her guide, Jennifer Kehoe.”