MANY people outside the public eye have been honoured in the Queen's Jubilee birthday honours list - from lollipop ladies to bagpipe teachers - as well as a host of figures from the worlds of art, business, politics, the media, public services and sport.

Playwright Harold Pinter has been recognised with the rare Companion of Honour, which is held by only 65 people at any time.

Other awards include an OBE to drag artiste Danny La Rue (OBE), a CBE to former BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Sue MacGregor and an MBE for this year's London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe.

The honours - selected by the Queen on the advice of Tony Blair - as usual provide scope for controversy, this time with the award of a knighthood for "curry king" businessman and Labour Party donor Gulam Noon.

And a CBE goes to Brian Cass, the managing director of Huntington Life Sciences, which has attracted fierce opposition for its experiments on animals.

Downing Street moved early to head off any criticism, stressing the choice had been vetted by a cross-party panel from the House of Lords.

Lollipop lady June Hartshorn, 66, has given 30 years of her life to helping children across the road in Wolverhampton.

Mrs Hartshorn, who received an MBE, said she loved her job.

Scot Robert Shepherd was delighted to receive an MBE for his services to bagpipe music and teaching.

A headteacher who has devoted his skills to rescuing failing schools and who pioneered methods of teaching dyslexic children received a knighthood.

Sir Robert Dowling, head of George Dixon International School and Sixth Form College in Birmingham, said he felt "humbled" by the award.