A LEGENDARY mountaineer and a governor of four schools are among the north Hampshire people who have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year honours list.

Governor Jane Pratt, 53, was made an MBE for her services to education. She said: “I’m delighted about my honour. It’s very exciting.”

Mrs Pratt is chairman of governors at Robert May’s School in Odiham – which all four of her children attended – and a governor at Chiltern Primary School, Basingstoke, Winklebury Junior School, Basingstoke, and The Connaught School, Aldershot.

She is a former chairman of the North East Hampshire Governors’ Forum.

Mrs Pratt, of Hillside Farm, Odiham, first became a governor at Buryfields Infant School, Odiham, in 1988, 90 years after her great uncle chaired the governors.

She said the honour reflected the work of all Hampshire’s governors.

“I have learnt some good things and seen some governors who need some support and development,” she said. “I am just one of 7,500 governors in Hampshire who all give freely of their time and it is really good to have our commitment and willingness to make a difference recognised.”

George Band, who with Joe Brown became the first person to conquer the world’s third highest mountain, has been given an OBE.

Mr Band, 79, a member of the team that first conquered Everest in 1953, was honoured for his services to mountaineering and charity.

The resident of Thakham’s Lane, Hartley Wintney, is president of the Himalayan Trust UK, which provides support to Sherpas, the Nepalese people who helped climbers scale many peaks.

Formerly, Mr Band has been chairman of the Mount Everest Foundation, president of the British Mountaineering Council and president of the Alpine Club.

Basingstoke resident Clive Barber, a manager at Reading prison, has been made an MBE.

And the director of children’s services at Hampshire County Council has been made a CBE.

John Coughlan, who until yesterday was seconded to Haringey Council to turn around the London borough’s children’s services department in the wake of the Baby P scandal, was recognised for his services to local government.

Mr Coughlan, 48, who is married with two children and lives in Romsey, said: “This is an honour and a tribute to children’s services as a whole.

“I especially want to thank my family, my colleagues and the elected members in Hampshire. Without all their backing this would not have been possible.”

Britain’s greatest ever Olympic sailor, Ben Ainslie, was among several Hampshire sailing stars recognised in the honours for their record medal haul at this summer’s Beijing Games.

Mr Ainslie, 31, of Lymington, was made a CBE after winning his third gold medal this summer in the Finn class.

Winchester sailor Iain Percy, 32, receives an OBE following his victory in the Star class and Yngling gold medallist Pippa Wilson, 22, of Lymington, was made an MBE.

The Scout’s assistant county commissioner Russ Parke, 59, of Cadnam, in the New Forest, has been made an MBE after helping prepare the first team of Scouts to conquer Mount Everest.

“I was gobsmacked,” he said.

Also honoured is John Madejski, the chairman of Reading Football Club – which has a legion of fans in Basingstoke. He was knighted for his charitable efforts, which include the John Madejski Academy in south Reading.