FORMER Chase headmaster David Fawbert and leading industrialist Bryan Smith have been given OBEs in the New Year Honours list.

Mr Smith, of Castlemorton, who was honoured for services to industry, said he was "absolutely delighted" to receive the award.

An engineer, he was the first chairman of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, the national body which regulates organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

He was appointed in 1995 and retired in October at the end of his second term of office.

He had previously spent 25 years with chemicals giant ICI, where he worked his way up to became director of engineering.

He and his wife Elisabeth moved to the Malvern area 15 years ago. Mr Smith is chairman of Castlemorton Parish Council, the Morton ward member of Malvern Hills District Council and a member of the board of Malvern Hills Conservators.

David Fawbert, who retired in July after leading The Chase since 1986, was honoured for services to education.

During his time there, the school increased its pupils numbers by 25 per cent, became a technology college and won Beacon status, Artsmark Gold and Sportsmark Gold.

Heather Williamson, chairman of the school's board of governors, said: "We have been trying to get this for him for years because of all he has done at the Chase to raise its profile.

"He was head there for 16 years. It had been a good school beforehand, but during his time it went from strength to strength.

"He has helped it to move forward with the times from greater and greater success in a time when so many changes were happening.

"He has helped the school through all of these and at the same time protected his staff from the dead weight of bureaucracy so that we have never had a problem attracting high calibre staff."

Julien Kramer, Worcestershire's director of education, said: "David has been an outstanding professional and has given fantastic service to Worcester-shire and to all the parents. This award properly recognises the commitment he has shown to generations of children."