The achievements of people from North Devon have been recognised in the New Year Honours list published today.

A Barnstaple-born amputee has been awarded the OBE for her services to disabled people and equal opportunities.

Diane Mulligan, 43, formerly Diane Baker, is a former Sticklepath girl who has travelled all corners of the globe to fight for equality — often from her wheelchair.

The former Park School pupil said: "The OBE came as a great surprise. It reflected years of really hard work.

"But it is also credit to the teams I work with. The people I meet in this line of work inspire me daily."

Always a campaigner at heart, Diane, who now lives in Sussex, was encouraged to work in the disability field after losing her leg in a motorcycle accident.

Heather Crouch, from the hamlet of Patchacott in Beaworthy, has been honoured with an MBE for her voluntary services to sport.

The current chairman of Netball South West has been involved with the sport for some 40 years.

She coached the England netball team for eight years, up until the late 1980s, and is currently writing her third book on coaching.

She said of her award: "I can hardly believe — one minute I'm crying and the next just thinking wow. I'm just gob-smacked."

A former Royal Marine from Bideford has received an MBE in the New Year's honours.

Robert Oliver David Graham from Orchard Hill received the accolade in recognition of his work for the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Graham was a Royal Marine for nearly 30 years before starting work as landing craft and small boat developer at Instow for the MoD.

He said: "The last 14 years, being based at Instow have been really good and the highlight has been the dozen people I have worked with.

"Obviously I am very pleased to be awarded the MBE but see it as recognition for the whole team."

The manager of the body which promotes the Tarka Line railway between Barnstaple and Exeter has been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours.

Richard Burningham has been the manager of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership since 1998.

He has been awarded the MBE for services to the railway industry in the South West.

Mr Burningham has a long involvement with Barnstaple and the Tarka Line which began with an 18-month spell as British Rail's Travel Centre Manager at Barnstaple station in the mid 1980s.

A former nurse from West Devon, praised for her tireless work with the Macular Disease Society, has been honoured with an MBE.

Gwyneth Dickinson, from Okehampton, was honoured for her ongoing support and dedication to the charity.

The trustee, chairman and now president joined the society in 1997 when she was herself diagnosed with Macular Disease.

The devastating condition robs people of their central vision meaning they cannot read, drive or recognise faces and for most forms there is no treatment.

There was also an MBE for Catherine Slow, of Parracombe, for services to West Exmoor Federation of Schools, Devon.

Mrs Slow, 55, was an inspirational figure when the primary schools of Parracombe, Lynton and Kentisbury formed a federation in 2007 with one head teacher and governing body.

Mrs Slow said: "It was a real surprise to get an MBE. The most touching thing is that someone has taken the trouble to do something for me, by nominating me."

● For more on these stories see next Thursday's North Devon Journal.