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People of outstanding merit

Anyone can be nominated for an honour, but only exceptional people are honoured. The latest list includes classroom assistants, customs officers, fashion designers, foster carers, poets, charity workers and a stamp designer.

This year those honoured work in a wide range of fields, including animal welfare, local arts and sports projects, cancer research, human rights, heritage projects, benefits offices and watchmaking.

In total 979 people have been recommended to The Queen for an award. More than half of the people receiving MBEs were put forward by members of the public. And more women have been honoured than ever before, making up 45 per cent of the list

• New Year Honours List 2010 - in detail

• Download New Year's honours list 2010 (PDF, 306K)

• Download the diplomatic, overseas, military, fire and police honours list (PDF, 78K)

• Help with PDF files

Famous names

A number of well-known people have received awards. These include:

• the Director of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner receives a knighthood
• actor Patrick Stewart receives a knighthood
• painter Maggi Hambling gets a CBE
• Status Quo singers Richard Parfitt and Francis Rossi receive OBEs
• Formula One driver Jenson Button gets an MBE
• River Cafe chefs Rose Grey and Ruth Rogers both get an MBE
• champion gymnast Beth Tweddle receives an MBE

The honours system

Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The Queen's official birthday. Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service, and honours lists contain a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. Anyone can nominate someone for an award.

Further information

• Nominating someone for an honour

• The honours process explained

• Honours lists