A TOWN’S Scout commissioner, a campaigner on domestic violence and a long-serving councillor are among the East Lancashire people recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Darwen’s Michael Grime, 61, is given the British Empire Medal for services to Scouts and the community.

Mr Grime, a father of one and grandfather of two who lives near Bold Venture Park, has been Darwen District Scout Commissioner for 13 years.

Leader of the Bold Venture group for 30 years, he joined the Scouts in Lower Chapel as a child.

A retired radio telecommunications worker in the gas industry, he was born and raised in the Bull Hill area of Darwen.

Mr Grime said: “I was overwhelmed when I finally opened the letter.

“It had lain unopened for a week because I thought it was an election communication canvassing my vote.

“When I did open it, I thought it was a joke.

“I’m over the moon about it now.

“I didn’t realise how many people and community groups seem to have supported it.”

Mr Grime also teaches ju-jitsu, in which he is a black belt seventh dan, and plays the organ at Darwen’s two Roman Catholic Churches of St Edward’s and St Joseph’s, as well as working with asylum seekers in the town.

He said: “Scouting is for all. There are no age barriers.

“It prepares young people for life. It is rewarding to see young people grow up into decent upstanding members of society,”

Former Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Jean Battle, 70, becomes a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for charitable and political services.

Cllr Battle first joined Hyndburn Council in 1990 and at various points represented Milnshaw and Barnfield wards and is now Labour councillor for Church.

She was Mayor of the borough in 1995/96 and has held several senior posts including chairman of housing.

Cllr Battle, married to Les with three children and four grandchildren, also served as a Lancashire County Councillor for Accrington North division and cabinet member of communities.

She has worked for many years with the Hyndburn branch of the Aawaz charity which works with women of Asian heritage and other immigrant groups and with Helping Hands which assists families who have fallen on hard times.

She said: “I was quite surprised when I got the letter.

“I didn’t expect it at all but I’m really pleased now.

“I’ve been involved in my community for more than 30 years but it is gratifying and rewarding to be recognised like this.”

Vivien Bickham, aged 60 and from Darwen, also received the MBE for services to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Mrs Bickham, an adviser with national charity Safe Lives, has worked for 30 years in the domestic abuse sector after a close friend was left in a vegetative state after an attack by her fiance.

She turned Blackburn with Darwen Women’s Aid from a small organisation to handling 1,400 cases a year, developing a scheme to help victims in their homes.

She said: “It’s very humbling. I couldn’t have done it on my own or without the bravery of the victims of domestic abuse coming forward.”

Cricketing legend Clive Lloyd, 75, who played for Haslingden CC in 1967 and 1968, before a glittering career for Lancashire and the West Indies, is knighted.

Sir Clive topped the batting averages from both years he played for Haslingden before winning many trophies for Haslingden and as captain of the West Indies, turning them into the most formidable team in international cricket and winning one-day World Cups.

Chorley squash superstar Laura Massaro, 36, gets the MBE. Ms Massaro twice won the British Open Championship.

Former Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service chief officer Chris Kenny, who retired in May last year, is given an Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Mr Kenny said: “It is a great honour to be awarded an OBE and to be recognised for my work in the fire and rescue service over the last 40 years.

“This is recognition for my former colleagues at Lancashire and Merseyside.”

The OBE is also awarded to former Rossendale Council chief executive Owen Williams for his work as boss of the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust while Alistair Clarke from Croston received the MBE for services to social enterprise in Lancashire.

The Queen’s Police Medal is awarded to temporary Inspector Neil Sladen from the Lancashire Force.