A businessman, army officer, former bus company boss and headteacher have featured in the New Year honours.

 

Steve Lavender, 61, and Major Malcolm Birkett, 48, were appointed MBEs. Frank Carter, 75, and Sarah Louise Creighton received OBEs.

 

Mr Lavender is co-managing director of Lavender International NDT Ltd at Station Approach, Penistone. He lives at Cubley and he and his wife Teresa have three children Neil, 35, Kim, 32, and Paul, 26. The firm, which is involved in the testing of metals without damaging them, was established by his brother Dave, who is co-managing director, and his father Jack who died ten years ago.

 

Mr Lavender, who joined the company in 1982, grew up in Sheffield and, after attending King Edward VII Grammar School in the city, read botany at Swansea University. He worked on a project to regenerate derelict land in the Lower Swansea Valley. His firm's clients include Rolls Royce, BAE Systems and the power company EDF.

 

Major Birkett, who lives in Barnsley with his wife Tracey and three children, is quartermaster with the 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Armoured Division). He joined the army in 1981 when he was 15 and rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major, the most senior appointment for a non-commissioned officer.

 

He served in Afghanistan in 2012 and his responsibilities included looking after the welfare of the families of those at home and abroad and the training and movement of personnel. His father served in the Korean War.

 

Mr Carter, who was the Yorkshire Traction's managing director from 1984 until December 2005, was honoured for services to business and charity. Mr Carter joined the bus industry when he was 16. He grew up in East Yorkshire and started his career as an apprentice at the East Yorkshire Motor Service in Hull.

 

In 1978, he became chief engineer at Lincolnshire Car Company in Lincoln and became chief engineer with Northern General, Gateshead in 1979. He was chairman of Barnsley Hospice for 13 years, was president of Barnsley Chamber of Commerce and Industry twice and was president of the Association of Yorkshire and Humberside Chambers of Commerce. He was a director of the London-based British Chambers of Commerce and also of Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre.

 

Mr Carter, who lives in Notton, was a trustee of South Yorkshire Community Foundation and is chairman of the organisation which runs his village shop, Notton Village Shop Ltd. He is an honorary Rotarian, a title bestowed by Stainborough Rotary Club. Mr Carter, whose wife Pat died aged 68, in September 2011, has a son Michael and two grandchildren. He said: "I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in business and charity. My only regret is that Pat is not here to share it."

 

Sarah Louise Creighton, executive principal of The Hill, Gooseacre and Littleworth Grange academies, received the OBE for services to education.