More than a dozen people from across the county have been recognised on the King’s Birthday Honours list including the director of the Ashmolean Museum.

Dr Alexander Sturgis, who has been director of the Ashmolean Museum since 2014, has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to culture.

Before taking up his current post he was Director of the Holburne Museum in Bath for nine years where he oversaw the Museum’s major renovation and extension.

From 1990 to 2005 he worked at the National Gallery in a number of roles including Exhibitions and Programmes Curator.

Vice-chancellor at the University of Oxford, Professor Irene Tracey said: “Congratulations to my Oxford colleagues who are recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this year for their instrumental service of people in the UK and the world.

“Their outstanding achievements continue to inspire us all.”

Also on the honours list, is on-call firefighter Steve Edginton with over 40 years of service who has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Mr Edginton, from Burford, is a self-employed builder but will leave at a moment’s notice when an emergency call comes.

Over the years, he has responded to hundreds of calls, saving lives in many accidents and during other emergency incidents.

He said: “This is such an unexpected honour. I’m an on-call firefighter because I love the role, the responsibility, the opportunity to meet people and to play my part in keeping them safe, and because of the camaraderie among the crew at Burford Fire Station."

Oxford-based Countdown star Susie Dent has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to literature and to language as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list.

She said she is “delighted” that she is being honoured for sharing her joy of language.

Dr Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach, has been given an MBE for services to higher education.

Dr Khan said: “For me, this award is recognition of the life-changing potential that access to quality education can bring, and how vital it is that educational opportunity is based on potential rather than background.

“I really hope that someone ordinary like me receiving such an honour will inspire anyone chasing a dream - go for it! I have been so fortunate to have in my life my Oxford team, family and friends - all of them have been so inspirational and just utterly brilliant.”

Among others recognised are Professor Freddie Charles Hamdy, from Oxford, who has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to surgical and cancer sciences.

Professor Ian Alexander Walmsley, from Oxford, also received a CBE for his services to science and to quantum technologies.

Becoming an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) is Benjamin Hugo Cairns, from Oxford, for services to charity and to the voluntary Sector.

Professor Rajesh Vasantlal Thakker, from Oxford, has been made an OBE for services to medical science and to people with hereditary and rare disorders.

For his services to the Royal Air Force, Tom Ciesco, who is from Witney, has been awarded an MBE.

Michael John Edwards, from Bicester, has been made an MBE for services to people with learning disabilities.

Jeremy Michael Edward Moss, from Faringdon, has also been recognised with an MBE for political service.

Singer Elizabeth Rebecca Pemberton-Mitchell, from Henley, received an MBE for services to music and to charity.

While, Rosalind Jean Richardson, who is from Chipping Norton, has been given an MBE for services to parliament.

Dr Sara Elizabeth Wells, from Didcot, director of the Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, has been appointed an MBE for services to medical research. 

Olive Margaret Boscott has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Cropredy.

Laurence Matthew John East, from Witney, has also been handed a BEM for services to policing and to charity.

Professor Stanley Weir Gilmour and Nicholas Paul Reuter have both been awarded the King’s Police medal.

More than 1,000 people from across the UK received honours in Friday's list.

Award organisers said 64 per cent of recipients were people who showed “outstanding work” in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

Of the 1,077 people honoured in the 2024 list, 509 were women – representing 48 per cent of the total – and 10 per cent of all successful candidates were from an ethnic minority background.

At CBE level and above, 40 per cent of recipients were women.