MORE than a dozen Wiltshire citizens are celebrating new honours from His Majesty the King.

King Charles III has bestowed OBEs and MBEs on 17 people from around the county as he marks the start of 2023.

The Adver spoke to some of the honorees before the big public announcement, and you can find the full list below.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Madeleine Lola Margaret The Countess of Bessborough OBE, Founder, New Art Centre - for services to Art, to Art Education and to Salisbury Cathedral.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Helen Belcher, Trustee, Trans Media Watch, Director, Transactual and Councillor, Wiltshire Council - for services to the transgender community.

John Churchill and Toby Sutton, Melksham-based co-founders of Scanning Pens Limited - for services to International Trade and to the Dyslexia and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Community.

Rachel Hick, Deputy Head, Finance Team, Army Headquarters, Ministry of Defence - for services to Defence

Elizabeth Jackson, UK Space Agency's head of space exploration - for services to the space sector.

Forest Carbon director James Hepburne Scott, of Pewsey - for services to Forestry and the Environment in Scotland.

Seafarers Charity CEO Catherine Spencer, of Pewsey - for services to Seafarers.

Professor Geoffrey Till, of Devizes, in recognition of his work at King's College London and US Naval War College - for services to Defence

Members of the Order of the British Empire

The Douglas Bader Foundation’s co-founder and chief executive David Bickers, of Bradford-on-Avon - for services to people with disabilities.

Paddy Bradley, Chief Executive Officer of Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership - for services to the Local Economy and to the community in Wiltshire.

Swindon-based Historic England’s director of corporate services, Meryl Hayward - for services to heritage.

The Marlborough-based Greatwood Horse Charity’s chief executive and co-founder Helen Yeadon - for services to Disadvantaged Young People and to Former Racehorses

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire

Woodborough Church of England Primary School headteacher Sarah Brewis - for services to education.

Polly Cox - for services to the community of Shalbourne.

Barbara King, the Group Scout Leader for the Scout Activity Support Unit of the 10th Chippenham Scout Group - for services to young people in Wiltshire.

The Ministry of Defence’s lead for digital academy services, Juliette Pearson - for services to defence and to the community in Wiltshire.

The deputy chief fire officer of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Derek James - will receive the King’s Fire Service Medal.