A TROTTON resident has been honoured in the Queens New Years Honours List for her lifetimes work as a book binder.

Maureen Duke, 88, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Honours List, announced on New Years Eve.

Maureen, who was born in Fernhurst, said: “I didn’t know I had been put forward, it was a complete surprise.”

She began training in bindery aged 18 at Guildford College of Art, and since then she has been commissioned to cover books for The Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Diana, and thousands of other people.

Maureen said: “As soon as I started my training in 1946 I knew I had found something I would want to do for the rest of my life.”

She trained under William Matthews, and went on to become one of the most respected bookbinders and teachers of recent times.

Maureen has also travelled widely, taking bookbinding to new audiences around the world, and has written extensively on the subject and been a pioneer in book restoration and conservation.

She added: “Through book binding I have been lucky to have visited New Zealand, Australia, North and South America, and countries across Europe, and restored, and covered books from the 16th century up to today, it’s been wonderful.”

Richard Cheetham from Alresford, a senior fellow in Sports Studies at the University of Winchester, was made a Member of British Empire (MBE) for services to education and community sport.

Mr Cheetham has worked in Winchester since 2005 and previously spent three years teaching and coaching in New Zealand.