ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

CBE: Gordon Matthew Sumner (Sting), Singer and songwriter, services to the music industry. (Wiltshire. Born Tyne and Wear)

OBE: Professor Philip David Lowe. Professor of Rural Economy and founder of the Centre for Rural Economy at the University of Newcastle. For services to the Rural Economy. (Morpeth, Northumberland); John Squires, DL. For services to the community, especially the Tyne and Wear Foundation in the North-East. (Riding Mill, Northumberland); Bernard Whiting. Business change manager, Inland Revenue. (Newcastle); Ashley John Graham Winter. Chairman, Learning and Skills Council for Tyne and Wear. For services to Business in the North East. (Corbridge, Northumberland)

MBE: Brian Gordon Burns. Strategic manager, mail and distribution, Inland Revenue. (Newcastle); Rebecca Desiree Elsy, JP. For services to the Citizens' Advice Bureau and to the community, South Tyneside. (South Shields, Tyne and Wear); James Fawcett, JP. For services to the community and to the Licensed Taxi Trade in Newcastle. (Newcastle): Frank Robert George Wilson. Boys' Brigade leader. For services to Young People in Sunderland. (Sunderland) .