A former commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose's search and rescue squadron has been recognised in the New Year's Honours list.

Lieutenant Commander Christopher 'Damage' Canning, who led the 771 naval air squadron between March 2010 and March last year, has been made an MBE.

He is one of 120 UK service personnel who were granted state honours by the Queen in the honours list.

Also recognised were Cornwall's Olympic sporting heroes Ben Ainslie, who was knighted after taking his four Olympic gold medal last summer, making him the most decorated sailor in the Games' history, and Penzance-born Helen Glover who took gold in the rowing women's pairs and has been made an MBE for services to rowing.

Tireless charity volunteers and top businessmen are among those in Cornwall who have been decorated.

David Williams, managing director of WTW Cinemas - which includes Truro's Plaza - has been made an MBE for services to regional cinema.

Mr Williams, 65, who has been in the industry since 1966 and became managing director in the 70s, took over the then-closed Plaza in 1996 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 part of Meals on Wheels for more than two decades.

Finally in this area, American-born Dr Melissa Hardie-Budden has been made an MEB 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.

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 were 64-year-old Phyllis Madron, volunteer fundraiser for the RNLI Penlee and Penzance, for services to maritime safety.

Mrs Madron, chairman of the Penlee RNLI Ladies Guild, lost her husband Stephen in the Penlee lifeboat disaster in 1981.

She has been involved with the RNLI for 42 years, but in the three decades since the disaster - which saw all hands lost on the Solomon Browne, when it went to the aid of the stricken coaster Union Star - her fundraising efforts have stepped up.

Under her chairmanship the Guild has raised £375,000 since 2000, together with many thousands of pounds at the lifeboat station shop, where Janet regularly commits hours of her time as a volunteer.

Also honoured have been 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, and Amanda Kimmins for services to the community of St Agnes.

Cornish recipents 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)