Veteran MP to be knighted as Essex people are honoured

The long-standing MP Simon Burns is to be knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

The MP for Chelmsford receives the honour for parliamentary and political service.

He has represented the Essex constituency since 1987.

Mr Burns is just one of several people from Essex to be recognised for his contribution to society.

Footballer Casey Stoney is made an MBE for her work promoting the women's game. Casey was appointed England captain in May 2012.

She went on to become just the fifth-ever player to earn 100 caps for the England Women’s team.

The England and Arsenal defender is in a relationship with her former Lincoln team mate Megan Harris. The couple had twins in November 2014.

Eminent medieval historian Dr John Ashdown-Hill from Lawford in Essex is also made an MBE for the vital work he did in helping to track down and identify the bones of King Richard III in a Leicester car park.

Dr Ashdown-Hill managed to trace the king's female line to a woman living in Canada, which enabled the bones to be positively identified.

Here is the full list of honours in Essex:

CBE

Robin Budenberg. Lately Chairman, UK Financial Investments. For services to Taxpayers and the Economy. (Colchester, Essex)

OBE

Mark Astarita. Director of Fundraising, British Red Cross. For services to Emergency First Aid and Fundraising. (Harlow, Essex)

Keith Brown. For services to charitable fundraising and the community in Essex. (Ingatestone, Essex)

MBE

Dr John Ashdown-Hill. Historian. For services to Historical Research and the Exhumation and Identification of Richard III. (Lawford, Essex)

Councillor Robert Boyce. Councillor, Maldon District Council. Forservices to Local Government. (Maldon, Essex)

John Hall. DL Chief Executive, Essex Wildlife Trust. For services to Wildlife and the Environment. (Colchester, Essex)

Ian Johnson. For services to the community in Leigh on Sea, Essex. (Leigh-on-Sea, Essex)

Pauline Lucas. President, Conservative Women's Organisation. For political service. (Colchester, Essex)

Dr Pauline Milne. Head of Clinical Workforce Development and Planning, Health Education East of England. For services to Nurse Education. (Harlow, Essex)

David Pickthall. Music Teacher, Brentwood School, Essex.For services to Education and to charity.(Brentwood, Essex)

Casey Stoney. Defender, Arsenal Ladies and England Women's Captain. For services to Football. (Essex)

Deborah Wright. Secretary to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee. Ministry of Justice. For services to Civil Justice.(Leigh on Sea, Essex)

Councillor Frank Delderfield. For services to the communities in Great Totham and Maldon, Essex. (Maldon, Essex)

Cornelius Donovan. For services to Business and Charity in Essex. (Benfleet, Essex)

Rahanara Hussain. For services to Diversity Inclusion and the community.(Southend on Sea, Essex)