New Year's Honours overlook hospitality

Representatives of the hospitality industry were thin on the ground in the Queen's New Year's Honours list released this morning.

Among those who were recognised was John Atkin, chief steward at University College Durham. A college institution, Atkin has been employed by the college for more than 40 years and is described as "the best person to ask where food queries are concerned". He received an MBE.

Jeremy Bennett, former vice president of the Academy of Food & Wiine Service, was made an OBE, and Stephen Moss, chairman of Springboard UK, was awarded a CBE for services to education and training.

Veteran toastmaster Ivor Spencer also got an MBE, as did Peter Rand, chairman of conference booking agency the Peter Rand Group.

Several member of the WRVS, which provides meals-on-wheels delivery and other community services, were also honoured.

The tourism sector was better represented. Among the honours were Denise Howard, chairman of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, and Dorothy Naylor, chief executive of North West Tourism, who both received OBEs.

Joy Swift, pioneer of murder mystery weekend breaks, got an MBE.