A church warden and a bus company director are among those who were recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Elizabeth Moore and David Richmond both received British Empire Medals when the honours list was announced earlier this week.

Mrs Moore has been recognised for “services to the community in Thriplow,” where she has lived since 1995.

The mother of two is a church warden at St George’s Church in the village, and is also a governor at the village school.

“I get involved in a few different things and it’s nice that people have put me forward for this,” she said. “I think there are a lot of people in Thriplow who do great work for the community with our village shop, the pub, the church and the school. All those things are important for community spirit.”

She added: “My first thought when I found was ‘gosh, this isn’t me at all’ but it’s a real honour and I accept it gratefully.”

Mr Richmond has been a director of his family firm, Barley-based Richmond’s Coaches, since the 1970s, and has been recognised for services to the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK – an industry body - and to charity in Royston.

He said: “It came as a big surprise. I’m proud to be involved in the travel industry, and have done charity work for many years through the Rotary Club of Royston. I’m delighted.”

Buntingford entrepreneur Al Lukies has been made a CBE for services to mobile banking and charity.

A former top-level rugby player with London Irish, he founded online payment firm Monitise in 2003 and it is now thought to be worth $2billion.

He said: “To be awarded a CBE for services to mobile banking and charity is a great honour and one which I am incredibly humbled to receive.

As well as being a personal honour for me, I also see this as recognition for the entire Monitise team. We are genuinely at the beginning of our journey and to receive such an award at this stage simply adds to the energy and passion I feel towards the work we do.”

Sue Dunkerton of Fowlmere has been made an OBE for services to health and engineering. She is a director of The Knowledge Transfer network, a national network of healthcare technology firms.