Falmouth’s Ben Ainslie has been given a knighthood while Cornish charity workers and business owners have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ainslie, who became the most decorated sailor in the Games’ history with his win this summer, will now be known as Sir Ben.

Ben, who went to school in Truro and learnt to sail at Restronguet, is already a CBE and is one of only four members of Team GB to be given the knighthood.

Among those in Cornwall being decorated is David Williams, managing director of WTW Cinemas, which includes Truro’s Plaza. He is to be made an MBE, for services to regional cinema.

Mr Williams, 65, has been in the industry since 1966 and became managing director in the 70s. In 1996 he took over the Plaza, which had closed, and after extensive refurbishment reopened it in 1998.

His company also owns the White River Cinema in St Austell, The Regal in Wadebridge and the Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay.

Lugina Oates, from Redruth, is also to be an MBE, for services to the community in West Cornwall.

The Portreath Parish Council clerk has spent almost three decades working in the community, with roles over the years including secretary and treasurer of the Friends of Truro Samaritans, secretary for the League of Friends of Trengweath Hospital (later Longreach House) and a fundraiser for Macmillan Nurses.

She has been with the West Cornwall Cancer Friendship Group for more than 20 years, was chairman of the governors for Portreath School, worked with New Connections in Camborne looking after homeless people and has been part of Meals on Wheels for more than two decades.

Finally in this area, American-born Dr Melissa Hardie-Budden has been made an MBE for services to heritage and the arts in West Cornwall.

She helped form the Hypatia Trust that was formed to support and oversee the maintenance, development and protection of the Hypatia Collections first brought together at the Jamieson Library in Newmill, Penzance.

In 1997 Dr Hardie-Budden and her husband Dr Phil Budden donated the majority of their personal collections to the Trust, in the hope they would be used for public benefit.

For the first time in 20 years, British Empire Medals are also being given. These have not been handed out since 1992, but were brought back for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Among the recipients of these will be Alison Bevan, director of Penlee House at Penzance for services to cultural heritage in Cornwall, 84-year-old RSPCA fundraiser Dorothy Fisher from Camborne for services to animal welfare and the community in Cornwall, Amanda Kimmins for services to the community of St Agnes, and 64-year-old Phyllis Madron, fundraiser for the RNLI Penlee and Penzance, for services to maritime safety.

Cornish recipients in the New Year's Honours list

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Melissa Hardie-Budden, services to heritage and the arts in West Cornwall (Penzance)

Lugina Oates, services to the community in West Cornwall (Redruth)

Kevin Penhale, services to border protection (Liskeard)

David Williams, services to regional cinema (Wadebridge)

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire

Lynn Bartlett, services to the community in Polruan (Fowey)

Alison Bevan, services to cultural heritage in Cornwall (Penzance)

Dorothy Fisher, services to animal welfare and the community in Cornwall (Camborne)

Amanda Kimmins, services to the community of St Agnes (St Agnes)

Pamela Richards, services to the community in Foxhole (St Austell)

Barbara Snowling, services to the community in Crafthole (Torpoint)

Phyllis Madron, services to maritime safety (Penzance)