THE achievements of people from across Oxfordshire have been recognised at Windsor Castle.

A college leader, a community leader and an Olympic hero are among those to have been honoured.

Now the nine people have been awarded with either the Order of the Bath, CBEs, OBEs and MBEs at the investiture ceremony by the Princess Royal.

Chief executive and principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, Sally Dicketts, was given a CBE for services to further education.

She has worked at the college for the past ten years and has been in education for 36 years.

Ms Dicketts, 58, said: “I am still passionate about the individual’s right to a fantastic education. Learning really does transform your life.”

Ms Dicketts, of Elsfield Way, Oxford, said she felt she had to apologise to Princess Anne for her curtsey during the ceremony.

She said: “She spent a couple of minutes with everyone in the room, which was really amazing. She knew something about everyone.

“She asked me about my career in further education and the work I was doing. It was particularly amazing to be able to take my 92-year-old father, my sister and my daughter with me.”

David Truesdale, co-founder of the Leys Community Development Initiative in Blackbird Leys, has been awarded an MBE for services to the community.

Father-of-two Mr Truesdale, 59, of Haddenham, near Thame, helped set up the charity in 1992. Run from Blackbird Leys Community Centre in Blackbird Leys Road, it supports people living in the Leys.

Sally Munday, chief executive of England Hockey and chief operating officer of Great Britain Hockey, was awarded an MBE. Miss Munday has held the posts since 2009 and in the past has managed the England and Great Britain teams.

The women's hockey team won a bronze at London 2012, supported by the Duchess of Cambridge, who watched the players defeat New Zealand to win their medal.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Companion of Order of the Bath

Paul Kirby, from Wallingford. Formerly director of No.10 Policy Unit. For services to Public Service Reform

CBE

Prof Terence Cave, FBA, from Oxford. Emeritus Professor of French Literature, University of Oxford. For services to Literary Scholarship

Sally Dicketts, from Oxford. Chief executive and Principal and Chair Reading College. For services to Further Education

Prof Anthony Heath, FBA, from Oxford. Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester and Emeritus Professor of Sociology University of Oxford. For services to Social Science
OBE

Prof Peter Dobson, from Kidlington. Director, Oxford University, Begbroke Business and Science Park. For services to Science and Engineering

Andrew Finding, from Banbury. Chief executive, British Equestrian Federation. For services to Equestrianism and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Banbury, Oxfordshire)

George Baker. Senior Officer, HM Prison Huntercombe. For services to the community

MBE

Sally Munday, from Chinnor. Chief executive, England Hockey and chief Operating Officer, Great Britain Hockey. For services to Hockey

David Truesdale. Co-Founder, Leys Community Development Initiative, Oxford. For services to the community in Oxford