A traffic warden who helped to foil an armed robbery has been awarded an MBE.

Peggy Long

Peggy Long, 57, is among 18 people from Oxfordshire in the New Year's Honours List.

Others include Professor Clive Booth, the former vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, who receives a knighthood for services to higher education, Bill McCreadie, the lock-keeper at Swinford toll bridge, and charity worker Don Rouse, for services to the village of Bampton, who both received MBEs.

During her 15 years as a traffic warden, Mrs Long, of Croft Close, Thame, has helped police arrest drug addicts and helped retrieve £4,000 of stolen goods. Mrs Long, a grandmother, said: "I've never regarded the job as just handing out parking tickets. I've kept my eyes and ears open and noticed when criminals come in with their cars.

"But the job is also about helping people and I've always tried to do that. I'm proud of the award, and proud I've done a good job to the best of my ability."

Eynsham lock-keeper Bill McCreadie has hardly had time to think about his honour. Despite being off duty, he was out yesterday helping to fill sandbags to hold back rising floodwater.

Mr McCreadie has spent the past 33 years operating the lock at Swinford toll bridge on the River Thames.

After moving from his native Northern Ireland, he took a job with Salter's steamers in Oxford. He met his wife Maureen in 1965 while working on a boat. After a three-year spell as assistant lock-keeper at Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, he moved to the lock near Eynsham in 1969.

Mr McCreadie's honour is for services to the River Thames and the community. He is due to retire in 2004.

During his time he has helped to improve public facilities on his "patch" of the river, including the opening of a picnic area and toilets for walkers and passing river cruisers.

Former Eynsham Parish Council chairman Dr Fred Wright said: "He is a really good bloke, who has always been very helpful."

Sir Clive, 59, who lives in Oxford, was vice-chancellor of Brookes from 1986-1997 when he oversaw the change from polytechnic to university status.

Since 1997, he has been chairman of the Teacher Training Agency (TTA), the body set up in 1994 to raise standards in schools nationally by improving training and recruitment.

Under his guidance, the agency has pioneered new training methods, backed by financial incentives. Teacher training recruitment in England is now at its highest level for 12 years.

Sir Clive said: "This honour recognises the expertise, support and dedication of a large number of colleagues, both inside and outside the TTA."

He is also chairman of the Central Police Training and Development Agency and deputy chairman of the South East England Development Agency, which recently provided £5m for the redevelopment of Oxford Prison.