PEOPLE in west Wiltshire have been celebrating after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

School handyman Charlie Cruse of Downsview Road, in Westbury, was delighted after receiving an MBE for 19 years service at the John of Gaunt School, in Trowbridge.

Despite being overwhelmed to be named, the 77-year-old school handyman wishes his wife was still alive to hear the news.

His partner of 54 years, Betty, died suddenly of cancer in September 2002 just a year after his son passed away after suffering a heart attack.

He said: "I don't understand why I got it but it's fantastic.

"I just wish my wife and son were both around to see this."

Mr Cruse first went to John of Gaunt School, in Trowbridge, as a temporary technician in the art and craft department. But after just two weeks the school decided to keep him on and he has been carrying out odd jobs and driving buses ever since.

Now Mr Cruse is planning his trip to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace and may even bump into some of his rugby heroes.

He said: "The rugby guys were fantastic who am I next to them? I enjoy my job, the teachers are wonderful and I love all the kids. I won't be using the letters MBE after my name, I just want to be known as Charlie again."

Independent film producer Simon Relph, from Bradford on Avon, has been awarded a CBE for services to the British Film Industry.

Mr Relph, 63, said: "My colleagues were the ones who put my name forward and when ones peers do that it makes it feel like a great honour."

Film has been in the Relph family for three generations.

Simon's grandfather, actor George Relph, was awarded the CBE in the 1950s and starred in the 1953 film the Titfield Thunderbolt, filmed at Limpley Stoke and Monkton Combe.

His father Michael Relph was an accomplished film producer, writer and director.

Mr Relph said: "I am proud to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather in getting the CBE."

He has been involved in producing or directing 17 films including Land Girls, Hideous Kinky and Blue Juice.

Since his career began in the 1960's he has served on the boards of film organisations such as the Film Consortium, British Film Institute and was chairman of BAFTA for two years.

He is currently working on a film based on the Sebastian Faulks novel, Birdsong.

Jim Brown, former chairman of the Newsquest Media Group, publishers of the Wiltshire Times, has been awarded a CBE for services to the regional newspaper industry.