Three islanders honoured by Queen in New Year list

Jurat Stephen Le Poidevin has been made an OBE for public service to law and community in Guernsey, Bill Luff an MBE for service to the cattle industry and Roy Sarre has been awarded the BEM for service to the church and music.

Jurat Le Poidevin, a retired police officer, has spent nearly 20 years serving as a jurat.

'I was quite stunned,' he said.

'It was totally unexpected. It will be a great pleasure to be able to tell the rest of the family.'

Festive founder Roy Sarre has been honoured with a British Empire Medal for his services to church and music.

The retired salesman, who started his church music career as an organist at Rocquaine Methodist Church when he was just 11, said he was shocked to hear he was getting the award.

'You never feel quite worthy of these type of things,' he said.

He is probably best known for founding the inter-denominational Island Churches Guernsey Festival Chorus, now known as Festiva.

Retired dairy farmer Bill Luff has credited his MBE to all the island's cattle breeders.

The 68-year-old is getting the accolade for services to the cattle industry, but he said it was a real team effort.

'This award is a great honour, but it is not just for me – it is for a whole team of people, who are dedicated to making Guernsey a centre of excellence for the Guernsey breed.'