England cricket captain leads the honours for Bedfordshire

England cricket captain Alistair Cook is made a CBE Credit: PA Images

England cricket captain Alastair Cook leads the honours for the county of Bedfordshire.

Cook, whose wife's family have a farm near Leighton Buzzard, is made a CBE.

The former Bedford School pupil has led his country for the past 10 years and just become the youngest player in the world to pass 10,000 runs.

Now his achievements have been given a royal seal of approval.

Also recognised is the Mayor of Bedford Borough Council, Dave Hodgson, who is made an MBE.

Rachel Medill, who's 52, and from Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire is made an MBE for services to young people.

In 2008 she gave up a lucrative career in the City to set up the Ride High charity to support disadvantaged young people across Milton Keynes.

Ride High helps provide therapeutic care for disturbed and disadvantaged pupils through contact with horses.

The charity supports 80 children every week and more than 500 have benefitted since its opening.

Rachel Medill Credit: Ride High

Des Salmon, who's 83, gets a British Empire Medal for his services to the community in Studham, near Dunstable.

As Chairman of the Friends of Studham Church, he's helped raise thousands to maintain the grade 1 listed building. The May Fair he organises every year is a highlight of the community calendar and brings in £6000 for the church.

The full list of honours for Bedfordshire is below.

CBE

Alastair Cook - Captain, England Cricket Squad. For services to Cricket.

OBE

Professor Eileen Scanlon - Regius Professor of Open Education, The Open University. For services to Education. (Stony Stratford, Bedfordshire)

MBE

David Stuart Hodgson - Mayor, Bedford Borough Council. For services to Local Government. (Bedford, Bedfordshire)

Ms Rachel Mary Medill - Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ride High Charity. For services to Young People. (Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire)

BEM

Paul Fredrick Bowen-James - Founder and CEO, Kids in Action Charity. For services to Children and Young People in Bedfordshire. (Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire)

Mike Marshall - For services to community in Old Warden, Bedfordshire.(Biggleswade, Bedfordshire)

Des Salmon - For services to the community in Studham, Bedfordshire.(Dunstable, Bedfordshire)