A former Surrey High Sherrif has been named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Dr Helen Bowcock, Surrey chair at the Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, was awarded an OBE for services to Community Philanthropy.

During her time as High Sheriff, Dr Bowcock visited the air ambulance’s Redhill base and attended the launch of the organisation’s night flying operation in 2013.

She joined the board of the air ambulance service last May.

Dr Bowcock said: "I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit KSSAAT twice during my time as High Sheriff.

"I was immediately struck by the way the organisation is driven by its charitable mission with much emphasis upon continuous improvement.”

Hidden Surrey, a report on persistent pockets of deprivation in one of the UK’s wealthiest counties, was penned by Dr Bowcock in 2010.