A grandmother-of-four who champions the rights of Bradford’s older citizens, long-serving police officers and a road safety campaigner are among the local heroes recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list today.

Jean Walker, chairman of the Bradford and District Senior Power charity, will receive an MBE for services to older people in the district.

She said: “I feel quite humble and I found it very emotional when I opened the letter.

“I felt really emotional, it was such a thrill.”

Carole Whittingham, of Brighouse, set up the charity Support and Care after Road Death and Injury (SCARD) after her son Steven was killed in a road accident almost 20 years ago.

Mrs Whittingham, who is also chairman of the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving, will receive an MBE.

She said: “People like me don’t get this sort of honour, that’s what it felt like. I never felt I’d done anything fantastic.

“I felt humbled because you don’t regard yourself as having done anything extra-special. You just campaign for the rights of people bereaved as a result of road deaths, you’re blinkered to anything else.”

Two West Yorkshire Police officers with a total of 60 years’ service to policing have also been honoured.

Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar will receive the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished police service, and Assistant Chief Constable John Parkinson will get an OBE.

In April 2010 ACC Akhtar was Gold Commander in the investigation into the murders of three sex workers by “Crossbow Cannibal” Stephen Griffiths. ACC Parkinson, from Cleckheaton, has worked in many areas of policing including serving as a specialist firearms officer, community liaison and working on major crime investigations.

Christine Hamilton Stewart, 59, patron of Bradford’s Marie Curie Hospice and vice-president of the charity nationally, will receive an MBE.

She said: “I was a nurse and was very passionate about palliative care services. I chaired the appeal to raise the money to build the hospice.

“I feel very blessed to be involved with such an amazing organisation.”

And Ann Shelton, 70, of Ilkley, who set up the Leeds branch of the National Society for Cancer Relief in 1964, will be recognised with an MBE for her services to the community in West Yorkshire.

She said: “I am very privileged, I feel very honoured and I am very much part of a team.

“I love to be involved with something local, helping local people.”

Valerie Watson, 58, has worked for the HM Courts and Tribunals Service for 41 years, moving from Keighley County Court to Bradford Crown Court in 2002.

She said she was “absolutely elated and deeply honoured” when she learned she would receive an MBE.

Also receiving an MBE was Veronica Taylor, payment strategy/ business change manager at Shipley HM Revenue and Customs.

Ronni Taylor has been awarded an MBE for her work for HMRC.

The mum of two, of Baildon, said: “I am thrilled to bits. I am overwhelmed and still can’t believe it. I still wonder what I have done to deserve such an honour.”