When David Cameron talks about the Big Society, then surely he must have in mind the type of people who have been honoured in the Bradford area in the Queen’s Birthday List.

People like Jean Walker, a grandmother of four who devotes a large amount of her time to campaigning for pensioners’ rights, or Carole Whittingham, who has campaigned on road safety issues since her son was killed in an accident 20 years ago.

They are ordinary people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to serve their community and to help other people.

And they are just the sort of people who should be honoured in recognition of their service.

Mrs Whittingham, who said she was humbled by her award, also said that people like her don’t normally get honours.

That is something that is changing slowly, as is again demonstrated by this latest list.

And these unsung heroes and heroines of our communities are exactly the sort of people who should be honoured.

They are also exactly the type of people the Government would like to see leading David Cameron’s much-vaunted Big Society.

People who are not just doing a job or carrying out their day-to-day duties.

That is not to denigrate in any way those who are honoured for the work they do in their chosen career. Their achievements can be equally deserving of recognition.

But there is something very special about the real people who decide to commit themselves to a cause because it is something they believe in passionately. They choose to devote their lives to a particular cause.

Congratulations to everyone honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List today. And let us hope we continue to see more and more of our unsung heroes included in future years.