IT is a happy new year for one Haslemere man, who has been thanked for his hard work on last year's spectacular Trafalgar 200 celebrations with a CB in the New Year's Honours list.

Rear Admiral James Rapp, the director general of the Royal Navy's Trafalgar 200 programme, is to be appointed as a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB).

Based in Portsmouth Naval Base, R Adm Rapp, 53, was in charge of the planning and execution of the highly successful events this year which commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

He engaged on a personal level with other government departments, foreign Navies and a host of other agencies.

Arguably the most impressive event was the international fleet review, which brought Navies from 36 nations to Portsmouth.

The celebrations culminated with a dinner attended by the Queen in HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship hosted by the RN's most senior officers, including Rear Admiral Rapp.

His citation refers to taking leadership of "possibly the most complex and ambitious programme of national maritime celebrations ever undertaken in the UK".

It continued: "The resounding success of Trafalgar 200 bears great testimony to your dedication and huge personal effort. You can and should be very proud of all that you achieved and it is fitting indeed that your success should be marked in this way."

R Adm Rapp said that he was "honoured and delighted to be appointed a CB following Trafalgar 200".

"But the successes achieved were the result of a huge team effort – by the Royal Navy and our many partners. I had the privilege of leading a totally committed bunch of people who all played a part in delivering a spectacular programme of events."

He lives in Haslemere with his wife Ann and they have three children. He is now leaving the service after 35 years in the Royal Navy.

His appointments have included flying as an observer in Sea Kings, navigating officer of HMS Bronington when the Prince of Wales was in command, and his own command of a number of Devonport-based ships including HMS Brilliant.

On promotion to Rear Admiral, he served as Flag Officer sea training from November 2001 to April 2004, delivering operational sea training to all Navy ships and submarines, and also to many foreign Navy vessels.