QUEENS HONOURS LIST: NURSERY manager Rosemary Bailey teaches children to read and so is used to dealing with letters now she has three after her name.

The 56-year-old from Shrivenham picked up an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for providing first-class childcare to hundreds of children from across the world.

Most of the youngsters who attend The Cottage Nursery in Watchfield, which she runs, are the children of servicemen and women who work at the nearby Royal Military College of Science.

Speaking from France, where she is visiting her brother, Mrs Bailey said she was deeply honoured to receive the gong, but stressed that her staff deserved recognition too.

"I would not have been able to do this job for so many years without the wonderful team of staff behind me," she said.

The nursery has come a long way since it was opened in 1990. Back then it had just 20 children and four staff. Today it has 180 children on its books and 40 staff.

With the ongoing crisis in Iraq, the nursery has taken on an important role. "Some servicemen and women eventually get posted to Iraq so we are very supportive of the families here especially in times of trouble," said Mrs Bailey, of Fairthorne Way, Shrivenham.

She also thanked her husband Brian for his support and their two grown-up daughters.

Charity worker Anthony Hand, 51, from Covingham Drive, also received an MBE.

It isn't the first time he has received recognition for his efforts. A year ago he scooped a Nationwide Award for Voluntary Endeavour.

That, too, was for his work with the group TECH4D or Technology for the Disabled.

Formed in 1989, the charity has refurbished hundreds of donated computers and passed them on free-of-charge to disabled and housebound people.

But Mr Hand remains modest. He said: "It's very nice to see your hard work recognised. But I am one of thousands of people across the country who does voluntary work. They all do a marvellous job."

The charity has provided a link to the outside world to scores of people, who for a variety of reasons are unable to meet friends and family regularly.

"Many of the people we help struggle to get out and about," said Mr Hand, who joined six months after the group was formed.

"Some use the internet to look up information relating to their illness while others use the built-in games to while away the hours if they can't sleep."

Two members of staff at the Swindon-based Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council have been honoured for services to scientific administration. Dr David Leech, of Fairford, has been awarded the OBE and recently-retired Dr Peter Smith, of Uffington, has been awarded the MBE.

kshoesmith@newswilts.co.uk