Leading figures in education, defence, technology, charity and sport are among those from Kent recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Dozens of men and women from across the county are included in the annual list for their contributions to local communities and further afield.

Among them is Simon Dean, founder and chief executive of Challenger Troop, a not-for-profit organisation that recently received the Kent High Sheriff Award and has been chosen as Kent County Council's charitable organisation of the year.

Scroll down for the full list

"It's an amazing honour and a real privilege to be awarded an OBE," he said.

"I feel it's very much in recognition for all the brilliant people in my organisation."

The 52-year-old, who lives in Langton Green with his wife Louise and two children, started Challenger Troop in 2007.

“We take young people out of their comfort zone, challenge them as individuals and as a team, in a safe, structured and disciplined environment in order to address negative learnt behaviors," he said.

"It's so, so rewarding to watch them engage and develop.

"Hopefully the award will further what we do."

Also on the list is Jacqueline Clarke, 67, of Chequers Cottages in Goudhurst, who has been awarded an MBE for her services to young people and the community, particularly through the Goudhurst Scout Group.

As a trustee, she is known within the community for her devotion to the club, which she only became involved with by accident.

In the early 1980s, with her now-adult children still infants, Mrs Clarke offered to help her friend for two weeks by covering shifts at the scout hut and she has never looked back.

She said: "I became involved all of those years ago and I'm still there, I'll still be here in years to come.

"I really enjoyed it and I still do, the children are fantastic. They are like dry sponges wanting to take in all of this information. They want to play and learn all the time.

"Busy children are happy children and it means they're not getting up to mischief."

Mrs Clarke feels honoured to be accepting her MBE next summer at a royal tea party.

"If ever a man deserved an award for kindness, selflessness and total dedication to the welfare of all former and serving servicemen, women and their dependants, it is James 'Blue' Cooper" - Major Gerry Bartlett

A former Canterbury soldier who has dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to helping needy
military veterans and their families also features on the list.

James 'Blue' Cooper, 62, who was a pioneer sergeant in The Queen’s Regiment - now the PWRR - has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association charity.

The father-of-three has helped countless ex-servicemen, women and their dependents with problems ranging from bereavement and debt to homelessness and disability.

He is well known among local veterans, regularly runs his own private military help surgeries on the Spring Lane Estate and has just helped a disabled Gurkha soldier and his family to find a home.

Divisional secretary for the charity Major Gerry Bartlett said: “He left the Army more than 30 years ago with an exemplary record - and ever since has quietly, effectively and modestly looked after soldiers, sailors, airmen and their families down on their luck.

“I have never known him refuse to deal with a case - however taxing, complicated or inconvenient.

“If ever a man deserved an award for kindness, selflessness and total dedication to the welfare of all former and serving servicemen, women and their dependants, it is James ‘Blue’ Cooper.”

Speaking of the honour, Blue, who lives in Suffolk Road said: “I am as pleased as Punch.

“My most rewarding case was helping a young former soldier from my own regiment I found sleeping rough in Canterbury who recognised me as his old sergeant.

“Through SSAFA, I was able to find money to get the lad off the streets, into a secure hostel and eventually back into work.”

Blue, who works as a caretaker at Christ Church University and St Peter’s Methodist Church, also runs a thriving veterans club called the Vipers.

The Kent honours list in full:

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

CBE

Ms Lisa Kathleen Phillips. Formerly Deputy director DFID Kenya, Department for International Development. For services to International Aid. (Kent)

OBE

Maj Simon John Dean. Founder and chief executive officer, Challenger Troop CIC. For services to Education. (Tunbridge Wells)

Stephen Gillespie. Grade 6 Border Force Transformation, Home Office. For services to UK Border Security. (Gillingham)

Martin Greenstreet. Grade 7 Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence. (Tunbridge Wells)

MBE

Ms Harriet Eva Ackunson. Formerly HEO, Faith and Integration, Department for Communities and Local Government. For services to Faith Groups. (Swanley)

Mrs Elizabeth Brooker. Road Safety and Sustainable Transport manager, London Borough of Lewisham. For services to Road Safety. (Kent)

Stephen Martin Clement. Formerly Senior Investigation Officer, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office. For services to Border Protection and Investigations. (Broadstairs)

The Reverend Cindy Kent-Winsley. For services to Religious Broadcasting. (Sheerness)

Miss Ellen Gertrude (Trudy) Kilcullen. For services to Young People in London and Essex through Children's Organisations and for voluntary service. (Swanley)

Mrs Margaret Delwyn Malpas. Joint Co-Chair, The British Dyslexia Association. For services to Education. (Kent)

Mrs Ann Susan Noble. Formerly head, Tydeman Centre, The Malling School, Kent. For services to Education. (Sittingbourne)

Miss Lea Ragsdell. Data manager Centre for Public Appointments, Cabinet Office. For public service. (Tunbridge Wells)

Jonathan Paul Reynolds. Co-founder and chief executive officer, SwiftKey. For services to Technology. (Kent)

Paul Ray Rochester. Senior Policy Officer, Department of Energy and Climate Change. For services to Improving Standards in the Microgeneration Sector and voluntary service. (Kent)

Harshbir Singh Sangha. Head of Strategy, Science and Society, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. For services to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. (Kent)

David Sear. For services to Girls and Women's Cricket. (Canterbury)

Alfred John Smith. Facilities manager, No 10 Downing Street. For services to No 10 Downing Street. (Aylesford)

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

BEM

Ms Jennifer Amma Beecham. Member, Priority Team Pool, Department for Energy and Climate Change. For services to public administration and voluntary service in London. (Kent)

Mrs Jacqueline Violet Clark. For services to Young People and the community in Goudhurst, Kent particularly through the Goudhurst Scout Group. (Cranbrook)

James Joseph Cooper. Caseworker, Canterbury Division, SSAFA. For voluntary service to veterans. (Canterbury)

Cyril Paul Emden. For services to the community in Folkestone.

Thomas Victor Fisher. For services to the community and under-privileged Young People in London. (Cranbrook)

Michael Paul Marshall. For services to the community in Capel-le-Ferne. (Folkestone)

Mrs Pauline Joyce Panton. For services to the community in Tunstall and Sittingbourne, Kent. (Kent)

Brian Sleightholm. Founder and president, St Peters Village Tour. For services to tourism in Kent. (Broadstairs)