A number of industry people have been recognised in the Queen’s annual New Year Honours List.

Robert Crawford, the director general of the Imperial War Museum, was awarded a knighthood for his services to museums. Crawford joined the Lambeth Road-based museum in 1968 as a research assistant and has been director-general for just over a decade. Since the introduction of free admission, the museum has increased its visitor numbers by 12 per cent.

David Davies, the former executive director of the Football Association (FA), was received an OBE for services to sport, as did the former chief executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Roger Knight.

Other notable OBE recipients included Ian Mason, the chair of Scottish Swimming (services to sport); Sue Wolstenholme, director of the British Tennis Foundation (services to disabled sport); Jasminder Singh, chair of Radisson Edwardian Hotel Group (services to hotel industry) and Novlette Rennie, director of Sporting Equals, (services to disability sport).

Meanwhile, David Higman, who used his collection of bicycles to open a museum 10 years ago, was given an MBE for his services to tourism. The museum in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales, has grown since its opening and currently houses 250 artefacts on display, some dating from 1818.

Liz Terry, the managing director of the Leisure Media Company – publisher of Leisure Management and Health Club Management magazines – was awarded a MBE for services to publishing. She recently oversaw the launch of the Spa Opportunities magazine, the sister publication of Leisure Opportunities and Spa Business.

Other notable MBE recipients included Raymond White, the scientific officer of the National Gallery (services to museums) and Angela Hartnett, executive chef at the Connaught restaurant (services for the hospitality industry).

Overall, there was a slight increase in awards received by women, with 40 per cent of honours going to females – the figure in 2006 was 37 per cent. Details: www.honours.gov.uk