A MIDWIFE, school principal and veterinary surgeon from the North West are among those recognised in the Queen's New Year honours list.

Warrington-born actor Pete Postlethwaite is also celebrating after the "complete shock" of being awarded an OBE for services to drama.

As predicted, the England World Cup winning rugby squad were all honoured, including an MBE for Waterloo RFC old boys Ben Kay and Will Greenwood, and Birkenhead born Matt Dawson.

The region can celebrate two new knights of the realm.

Professor Alasdair Breckenridge from Wirral is knighted for his services to medicine (he is chairman of the committee on the Safety of Medicines) while Bernard O'Connell from Wallasey is knighted for services to further education.

Mr O'Connell, 58, was one of 13 children born to Irish immigrant parents in Liverpool.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to have come from a relatively poor background in Liverpool to be a knight of the realm.

"I am especially pleased for my family, my wife Jane and the staff at the college, whose hard work is reflected in this award."

Mr O'Connell, a Liverpool University graduate and former vice principal at Old Swan Tech, took over Runshaw College in Leyland in 1984.

In his 20 years there, it has grown to be one of the largest colleges in the country with 3,500 students studying A-levels or vocational courses and nearly 10,000 people studying adult education courses.

It was named as the UK's best public sector organisation in 2002 and this year was acclaimed as the best such organisation in Europe.

Mr O'Connell has continued to live in his home overlooking the Mersey with his wife Jane, who shares his passion for Liverpool FC.

Postlethwaite, once described by Steven Spielberg as "the best in the world", has appeared in a string of hit films including The Usual Suspects, Romeo And Juliet, In The Name Of The Father and Jurassic Park: The Lost World.

He said: "It's a complete shock and I'm delighted to be honoured."

Postlethwaite, 58, toyed with the idea of becoming a priest and a teacher before deciding to take up acting.

He toured pubs and clubs as part of a theatre troupe with then girl-friend Julie Walters and started out with bit parts in Coronation Street, Minder and Casualty.

He worked steadily but it was the film In The Name Of The Father which transformed his career with his performance as Giuseppe Conlon earning him an Oscar nomination.

Prof Gwilym Barrie Edwards, head of veterinary clinical science at the University of Liverpool, has been awarded a CBE for his services to Veterinary Science.

The 65-year-old from Heswall is an expert in Equestrian medicine.

Mr Edwards said: "I was surprised when I found out. I don't know who nominated me but I have my suspicions.

"My wife, Susan, was very pleased when she found out. She has had to be very understanding as I am on call 24 hours a day and I have missed a few birthday parties in the past."

Community midwife Dorcas Akeju from Liverpool Woman's Hospital who has worked in the profession in Liverpool for 28 years has received an OBE.

The midwife said she was shocked by the award but dedicated it to the memory of her 19-year-old son, Julius, who was killed after being hit by a car three years ago.

Nigerian-born Mrs Akeju, who moved to Liverpool in 1974 to take up medical work, was given the accolade for services to healthcare.

She said: "I got a letter saying I was nominated but have had to wait until the New Year before anybody could know. I hadn't even told my bosses."

Mrs Akeju has carried out pioneering gynaecological research, and written an influential leaflet on cervical smears translated into 10 languages.

She said: "The award is not just for me. I'm taking it for my son who died three years ago, for the community which has supported me so much and for the Trust which employs me."

Susan Ross Proctor has been given an OBE for her service to the community of Chester.

She has been working as a council-lor in the area since the early 1980s.

As well as her work in the council, she helped to set up the Crossroads charity which provides cover for carers allowing them to take time off to recuperate.

She said: "All my family are very pleased that I have been given this honour. But the reason that I have been given this award is because of all the great people that I have been able to work with."

Peter Fahy, the chief constable of Cheshire Police, who will receive the Queen's Police Medal, said: "I am obviously very honoured to receive this award.

"However, if anyone thinks it means I am going to rest on my laurels then I'll have to disappoint them."

Elizabeth Killian, an area administrator in Wirral Magistrates' Court, has been given an MBE for her services to the Magistrates' Court Service in Merseyside.

The 57-year-old has worked in the courts for the past 32 years including stints in Liverpool, Bootle and Wirral.

She said: "I really am very pleased. I'm lost for words about this and if anyone knows me they will know that does not happen very often.I think that this is an award for the work that everyone does in the court."

Lifeguard Eric Deakin, from High-town, near Formby, is already in the Guinness Book of Records for the most awards, 234, won by a British Royal Lifesaving Society member.

He has now been awarded the MBE for services to swimming and lifesaving.

The 63-year-old has accumulated 234 badges during his 44 years in life-saving and dedicated his life to helping generations of children across Merseyside.

Eric worked as a city council swimming instructor for 25 years. Although now retired, he still does voluntary work teaching safety and first- aid techniques to schoolchildren...SUPL: