Thames Valley Police chief constable appointed CBE

Chief Constable Thornton has led the force since January 2007

The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police has been made a CBE in The Queen's New Year Honours list.

Sara Thornton, of Oxfordshire, was appointed Commander of the British Empire for services to the police.

Other county residents honoured include Stephen Bubb, of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, who becomes a knight.

Dr David Edgeworth Butler and Prof Rory Edwards Collins, both of the University of Oxford, also become knights.

Dr Butler, a fellow of Nuffield College was honoured for his services to political science.

Prof Collins, co-director of the university's Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, was recognised for services to science.

Meanwhile, the director of Oxford's world-famous Ashmolean Museum, Dr Christopher Paul Hadley Brown, has been appointed CBE for services to museums.

Chief Constable Thornton, 48, who has led the force since January 2007, said: "To be honoured in this way is a lovely surprise.

"I am both humbled and delighted."

Other Oxfordshire residents honoured in the list include Ms Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the Legal Services Commission at the Ministry of Justice, who is appointed a Companion of The Order of the Bath.

Philip Taylor, senior governor at HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, who is from Bicester, is appointed Officer of the British Empire, or OBE.

Another Prison Service employee to be honoured is Anthony Bagnall, the farm foreman at Oxfordshire's HM Prison Bullingdon, who is appointed Member of the British Empire, or MBE.