OLYMPIAN Steve Redgrave was knighted in the new year's honours but many ordinary people were rewarded too for the extraordinary work they have done.

Sir Steve Redgrave said his knighthood was an 'unbelievable' end to his career.

Speaking from his Marlow Bottom home, Sir Steve said: "No one starts a sport for fame and fortune. You do it because you get a lot of pleasure out of it and things lead on from there.

"Finishing-up with retirement and being knighted at the end of it is unbelievable really. You think about winning races and so on. You never really think about the honours that may be bestowed on you along the way."

His wife Ann now becomes Lady Ann but admitted: "I find the whole idea of being called Lady Ann quite bizarre. It will take some time to get used to but in real terms life will carry on as normal."

Charles Pollard, chief constable of Thames Valley Police for the past ten years, has also been knighted.

Mr Pollard, 56, introduced restorative justice into Thames Valley, whereby young offenders meet their victims face to face rather than being sent to court.

The chief said how he felt humble to have been given the award and that the honour reflected on the force as a whole.

Mary Dove, who has quietly worked unpaid at Marlow railway station for the past 15 years, was rewarded for her dedication and commitment with an MBE.

Mrs Dove said she was left stunned after a mystery nominator put her name forward.

She added: "I don't really know what I have done just looked after the station, keeping it clean and helping passengers.

"I don't know who nominated me but I would like to find out. I really haven't got the faintest idea."

Mrs Dove, who lives in Victoria Road, Marlow, said she had met a lovely group of friendly people during her time at the station: "You get to know some of them as they go in and out on the trains."

Firefighter Michael Evans also gets an MBE for his service to Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service over 35 years.

Station Officer Evans, based at Princes Risborough, said: "I was totally shocked. It is something I had never dreamt of. Once it sunk in I was delighted and extremely proud."

Mr Evans, who became a retained firefighter at Princes Risborough in 1965, also received the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1985.

There is an MBE too for Anthony Smart who helped raise nearly £400,000 to save his village hall at Lacey Green. The hall was in such disrepair that villagers were faced with the prospect of losing it.

The hall, which cost £387,000 to rebuild, is used by about 13 organisations from Lacey Green and Loosley Row.

Mr Smart said the project was only made possible by the hard work of the village hall committee and organisations who use the facility.

The father of two, from Lacey Green, said: "It really was a team effort. It was just that I was the chairman of the committee. This has done an awful lot of good for the community."

Anita English, who has dedicated 30 years to voluntary work in and around High Wycombe was awarded an OBE.

The mother of two, from Chesham, found out about her award in November but kept it a secret from family and friends until last Saturday.

She said: "I have been so busy doing things I have not really thought about it, only from time to time. My family are over the moon. I think they are more excited than I am."

Mrs English, who lives at Crossways, has been chairman on the Thames Valley Enterprise Board for the last six years where she has worked to bring training and education to disadvantaged people.

Michael Jolly, chairman of Madame Tussauds, has been awarded a CBE.

Mr Jolly, 48, from Chalfont St Giles, said: "I'm very honoured. It is nice to think people appreciate what one does."

The father of two, who has worked for the Tussaud's group since 1983, said: "Running a big visitor attraction is not quite as easy as it might seem. At Madame Tussauds's we run some of the biggest in the country so it's great to get some recognition."

The Tussaud's group owns Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle, the Rock Circus, the London Planetarium and a third of the London Eye.

Others who appeared on the honours list include Geoffrey Dart who was made a CBE for services to the navy, army and air force. He lives near Marlow.

Two other CBEs went out to Elwyn Eilledge of Beaconsfied for services to financial accounting and John Ballance of Chalfont St Giles for service to the Science Museum.

There were two other recipients of MBEs, both women from High Wycombe;Molly Fowler, for services to the community, especially Scouting, and Janet Lord for services to EMI.