Esther among those honoured by Queen

Miss Rantzen, 65, who lives in Bramshaw in the New Forest, is made a CBE for services to young people in the Queen's birthday honours list.

The former That's Life! presenter received the award mainly for her work with ChildLine, which she created in 1986 to support children who need help or are in danger.

Miss Rantzen described herself as "honoured and thrilled".

She said: "Obviously I'm completely committed to the work I do with young people and it's enormously cheering that it's seen as important.

"Of all the things I have been associated with, ChildLine has been the most challenging and given me the most satisfaction."

Miss Rantzen remains president of the national helpline charity, which receives about 4,000 attempted calls a day, and also works with the Association of Young People with ME.

She had already received an OBE for her 40-year broadcasting career.

TV newsreader Alastair Stewart, who lives in the village of Bramdean near Winchester was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity.

Mr Stewart, 53, presents ITV's London Tonight, Lunchtime News and News at 10.30pm.

His career in television started in 1976 with Southern Television and he has worked as a reporter, industrial correspondent, presenter and documentary maker.

Mr Stewart is an active charity campaigner, with a number of high-profile roles.

He is vice president of both NCH Action For Children and Homestart, patron of Scope and the medical research charity Sane, and vice patron of The Zito Trust and The Mental Health Foundation.

He said: "I was thrilled to receive this honour. I celebrated 30 years in broadcasting earlier this year and to have my efforts acknowledged in this way brings me undiluted joy.

"The recognition of the charity work I try to do, when broadcasting allows, is also very generous. It is a simple way for those of us in fascinating and well-paid work to give a little back."

Six times world powerboat champion Steve Curtis, from Southampton, has been made an MBE.

The 42-year-old is considered one of the best international racers of all time having won his first titles 21 years ago in the USA.

In 1985 he became the youngest ever Class 1 champion and the first Briton to win the title. A second title followed in 1987 but the third was not until 1998 when he won as throttle man on Spirit of Norway.

With driving partner Bjorn Rune Gjelsten he gained three further championship wins in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Outside of the cockpit, Steve runs a family business, Cougar Marine in Warsash, and supports the UK's Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Championship.

Robert Chase, a pacemaker technician at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, is made an MBE.

Mr Chase, 62, of Titchfield, has worked within the health service in Southampton for more than 40 years.

He heads up the pacemaker laboratory at Southampton General Hospital, one of the last of its kind in the country.

Mr Chase is so committed to his cause of visiting patients at their homes and running clinics from the hospital that he often does not even claim expenses for his work.

He said: "I'm feeling fine about this honour."

Michael Stuart Hunter, head of the shipping safety branch of the Southampton based Maritime and Coastguard Agency, received an OBE for services for the protection of the marine environment.

Mr Hunter, 48, an engineer who has been with the MCA since 1992, said he was "deeply honoured and delighted" to receive the award.

It recognised in particular his work leading a 100-strong international group for four years to develop, through the International Maritime Organisation, a new convention to tackle the threat of foreign plant and animal life spread through ship's ballast water.

Mr Hunter, a keen sailor, lives in Brockenhurst with his wife Linda and two daughters, Katie and Rachel.

Two Hampshire members of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Family Association were honoured with MBEs.

Bryan Wilson, 74, of Dibden Purlieu, joined the Southampton division in 1989 as a secretary. He still holds that post and is now chairman of the Hampshire branch.

A SSAFA spokesman said: "He is an approachable, far-reaching and efficient leader, always available to help other volunteers and to play a full part in fundraising events."

Juliette Spiller of Minstead, has also been given the MBE for services to the SSAFA, which provides practical, financial and emotional support to families of servicemen.

Mrs Spiller has been responsible for running the SSAFA Forces Help London Central Branch's carol concert since 1994.

David Chisnall, deputy chairman of the Totton based Asfare Group plc received an OBE for services to the fire industry.

Mr Chisnall moved to Southampton in 1989 as managing director of AS Fire & Rescue Equipment, as the business was then known, and has since trebled the workforce, led it through a management buy out and a flotation on the AIM stock market in December 2002.

Mr Chisnall, 55, who lives with his wife Mary in Langley, said he was "stunned and delighted" at the honour.

"It is an obvious recognition of the role that industry has played to support the UK Fire and Rescue Service and continues to play in these challenging times," he said.

The achievements of three Hampshire County Council officers have been recognised.

Andrew Smith, director of property business and regulatory services, has been awarded an OBE and Shirley Thorne, corporate information services manager, and Barry Duffin, site manager at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve were both made an MBE.

Mr Smith and Mrs Thorne, both of Winchester, were rewarded for services to local government. Mr Duffin, of Fareham, received his honour for services to nature conservation in Hampshire.

A leading member of Eastleigh's Royal British Legion branch has been honoured for his services to the organisation which helps ex-servicemen and women.

William Jason Bates, of Eastleigh, becomes an MBE for his services to the RBL in Hampshire.

A top manager at the Titchfield based Office for National Statistics has been awarded the OBE.

Barry Little, of Fareham, is head of the ONS's Information Management Applications Branch.

Southampton-born Dr Gordon McGlone, a former pupil of King Edward VI Grammar School in Southampton, was given an OBE for his services to conservation.

Dr McGlone's mother, Ena, still lives in Bitterne, where Dr McGlone was born and brought up. Dr McGlone now lives and works in Gloucestershire where he has headed up Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for 23 years.

Mrs McGlone said: "I'm just so proud. Gordon's stunned but deeply honoured. It came completely out of the blue, but it's so good that his wildlife conservation work is being recognised."

Gwendoline Scott from Gosport received an MBE for services to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Hampshire and also her work on the Gosport Victim Support Scheme.