FIVE people from Comet country were awarded MBEs in the New Year s Honours list. They include two captains of industry, a volunteer, a stalwart of his community and a woman who rose from a lowly role to become the boss of her company. Leisure Media Compan

FIVE people from Comet country were awarded MBEs in the New Year's Honours list.

They include two captains of industry, a volunteer, a stalwart of his community and a woman who rose from a lowly role to become the boss of her company.

Leisure Media Company Ltd was only two years old when Liz Terry joined as an editorial assistant 23 years ago.

She worked her way up, about 15 years ago moving more into a managing role and now she is managing director, although she still keeps her hand in editing a couple of the seven magazines published by the Hitchin-based company.

"Changes in the leisure industry have been enormous and in publishing," said Liz. "I still love it."

She takes delight in working for a company employing just 45 people from premises in Portmill Lane whose magazines go all round the world.

The MBE was for services to publishing but Liz believes she would never have got it without the support of her fellow workers.

"It has been a team effort and I dedicate it to them and their hard work," she said.

Liz, who is 46 and married, said the award was "a lovely surprise" for her two children.

The award of an MBE has been "a great tonic" for 67-year-old Peter Maudlin who is recovering from open-heart surgery last month.

He was given the honour for his services to Upper Caldecote where he was born and bred.

"I never expected it, it is a bonus, a wonderful honour. It really uplifted me," said Mr Maudlin.

He has been a committed member of Northill Parish Council for more than 30 years, serving four years as chairman and taking other responsible roles.

Mr Maudlin has been chairman of Caldecote Playing Fields Association since 1973, and is president of both the local football and cricket clubs and of the scout group.

A great supporter of village events, he has also been raising money for charities for 40 years.

"I could not have done it without my wife Josie being behind me," said Mr Maudlin.

A farmer all his life, he still helps out his sons on the farm. He has three sons and a daughter.

Stevenage resident Sue Dungey was awarded an MBE for her work as a volunteer at Lister Hospital.

She started volunteering with the chaplaincy team three years ago as a ward volunteer. Since then she has also fulfilled a variety of roles for the East and North Herts NHS Trust's voluntary services department, as well as being pivotal in co-ordinating a new team of volunteers to collect patients for chapel on Sundays.

Trust chief executive Nick Carver said: "We were delighted to hear of the honour given to Sue. In so many ways it is a recognition of not just her contribution to the Trust, but of the 350 men and women who give of their time so freely to help our staff, patients and their families and friends."

Modest Sue said: "I am absolutely amazed to receive this honour. There are many people more deserving."

She added: "From a rather nervous start as a volunteer, I soon realised how privileged I was in being able to listen to patients' stories - from general talk of the weather, families and the noise of the workmen fitting the hospital's recently installed new windows, to the deeper issues of illness with the accompanying hopes and fears."

They were over the moon at MBDA in Stevenage where two employees got MBEs.

Dave Armstrong, 43, is Meteor multi-national project director in charge of a European programme to develop a beyond visual range air to air missile..

The chartered engineer who has two sons and lives in Stevenage Old Town has been with the company since 1984.

He said: "I am very proud to receive this honour. It is recognition of the tremendously innovative and challenging work done by MBDA people over many years to develop world leading products for our armed services."

Dr Trevor Taylor, 58, is UK projects director who is married to Julie with one son and lives in Meppershall.

He said: "I am very pleased to receive this award. It is an honour, not only for myself, but for the dedication and commitment of the teams that work to provide our armed forces with the capability they need to carry out their very difficult job."

In 2004 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.