TWO South Hams residents have received royal recognition in the 2013 new year's honours list.

Julian Crow from Newton Ferrers and Carleen Kelemen from South Brent have been made an MBE and an OBE respectively for their work in public service.

Mr Crow, 61, received his award for services to the rail industry as regional manager of First Great Western and Ms Kelemen received her accolade for services to social justice and economic inclusion in her role as director of the Convergence Partnership office for Cornwall and the isles of Scilly.

Mr Crow said he was 'surprised' and 'thrilled' by the honour after a career in the rail industry spanning over two decades. He said: 'It is a lovely thing to happen towards the end of my long career.

'My wife is thrilled and deserves at least half of it.

'Having spent so long in the rail industry you just keep your head down and get on with it.

'The real enjoyment has been managing the local services, which are doing better than ever in their history.'

Ms Kelemen has been described a 'inspirational' by her peers and was recently appointed chair of the Institute of Directors in Devon and Cornwall.

Before that she led the regions European Objective One Partnership Office from 2001-09.

She enjoyed a successful 25-year private sector career with influential employers including BT and PriceWaterhouseCoopers and headed an East Midlands manufacturing group.