Marlborough stalwart Nick Fogg has been made an MBE for his services to the jazz festival he founded and to the town's community in the New Year’s Honours List announced tonight.

Coun Fogg, who has twice been Mayor of Marlborough, first mooted the idea of a festival in the town when he first became mayor in 1985 and one year later the Marlborough Music and Arts Festival ran for an entire week in June.

The first three day jazz weekend was introduced in 1990 and the Marlborough International Jazz Festival as it is known now first came into fruition in 1997.

It has attracted a host of jazz stars including The Jools Holland Big Band, Georgie Fame and Claire Teal and after 27 years it is still going strong.

Coun Fogg, who lives in Oxford Street, said news of the royal award came out of the blue in the mail. He said: “It was a real surprise, I thought it was a letter about income tax because it was a very official looking letter so I approached it with some caution.

“As far as I can gather I was nominated separately by two people which I find quite extraordinary.

“I shall go to St James’ Palace and no doubt I shall feel obliged to open some Champagne afterwards.”

Also named in the honours list was Anne Gibb who has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community and charity in Great Bedwyn.

She is on the board of trustees for the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society, is a member of the Friends of Brendoncare nursing home in Froxfield and is involved in Great Bedwyn primary school.

She said: “I was absolutely flabbergasted when I found out but I was happy at the same time.

“My husband knew I’d been nominated so he wasn’t too surprised. It’s funny because he received an MBE last year for service to maritime charities and I think people around the village though ‘What about Anne, she does quite a lot for the village'.”

Volunteer Susie Eliot-Cohen has been made an MBE for services to charity and to the community in Ramsbury.

She has been volunteering since 1961 when she became a mother and gave up her job as a teacher in London.

Since the 1970s she has been involved with the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild and she is also involved in Froxfield sheltered housing scheme The Duchess of Somerset Almshouses and is a member of the Holy Cross Church Parochial Council.

She said: “When I received the letter I was amazed to be honest, it was a real surprise."