Huddersfield poet Armitage honoured by the Queen

Simon Armitage is being honoured for his services to literature

West Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage has become a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Huddersfield-born poet, who is also a playwright and novelist, is honoured for his services to literature.

Armitage's poems have received critical and popular acclaim and his work has featured widely in the school curriculum.

The head teacher of a Bradford school and the chairman of Yorkshire Forward have also received honours.

Naila Zaffar, head teacher at Copthorne Primary School, has been made a dame by the Queen for her services to education, while Terence Hodgkinson of the development agency Yorkshire Forward is honoured for his services to business and regeneration with a CBE.

In other honours, Yorkshire Sculpture Park founder and executive director, Peter Murray becomes a CBE for services to the arts while Bradford foster carers Robert and Pamela Noden are made MBEs for services to children and families.

Chief executive of Kirklees Council Robert Vincent, who will shortly be leaving the post to taking up the role of interim chief executive of troubled Doncaster Council, becomes a CBE.

West Yorkshire Police's deputy chief constable David Crompton, and the force's Sgt John McFadzean both receive the Queen's Police Medal, which is awarded to officers for distinguished service or gallantry.