The leader of Northamptonshire County Council, Councillor Jim Harker, has said collecting his OBE at Buckingham Palace was one of the proudest days of his life.
Councillor Harker, who has been a county councillor for 32 years, was included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to civic society and the economy.
He travelled up to Buckingham Palace on Monday to receive his OBE with his wife Jenny and his two eldest granddaughters Emily Rowley, aged 13, and Georgina Crane, aged 15.
Councillor Harker said: “It went really well. The Queen remembered the event at Burleigh House in June and it was a very proud occasion.
“She was obviously very well briefed and mentioned the fact the council had helped to keep the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It is certainly one of the proudest moments of my life and made me think about my father who led me in to the council role.”
Councillor Harker was one of seven people from Northamptonshire honoured in the Queen’s Birthday list, including Fleet Street columnist, Alexander Chancellor, from Towcester, who was appointed CBE for services to journalism.
Professor Ashraf Jawaid, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Bedfordshire, was appointed OBE.
There were also MBEs for Mrs Gillian Hinson for services to Higher Education and Teacher Education and Frank Stapleton, for services to people with MS and their families.
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