A Rowlands Castle parish councillor is on the King’s New Years Honours list thanks to a burning commitment to keep the public safe.

Ian Moore said he felt “very proud” after being given an OBE for services to the fire industry and public safety.

He believes the nod was down to a combination of factors, as the chief officer of the Fire Industry Association is also a magistrates, parish councillor and humanitarian who has strived to improve fire safety standards for years.

He said: “I’m very much a royalist so having those three letters at the end of my name means a lot to me.”

Liphook resident Lizzie Kerr is also feeling starry-eyed as the former director of UKspace has been awarded an MBE for services to the space sector.

She won universal acclaim for transforming and establishing the trade association into the voice of Britain’s space industry during her six-year tenure.

She said: “This award was such a surprise but also such an enormous honour for me and the UKspace team.”