Two 'super' mums inspired to help others by their daughters' battles against disability have been recognised in today's New Year Honours List.

Anne Renard, 60, and Margaret Newton, 57, have been awarded MBEs as Prime Minister Tony Blair deliberately sought to honour people with hearts of gold.

And, modestly, both women immediately dedicated their awards to their daughters.

Mrs Renard, of Nab Wood, Shipley, whose 34-year-old daughter Juliet, has severe learning difficulties, was a founder member of Keighley Toy Library 20 years ago and helped form Shipley Leisure Library at Shipley Resource Centre which lends games and equipment to adults with learning problems.

"Juliet was the inspiration behind it and the aim was to help not only her but others in a similar position," she said.

"One of the things that's so rewarding about working with children and adults through the toy and leisure libraries is that you're able to give them the opportunities to reach their potential.''

Mrs Newton, of Horton Bank Top, Bradford, whose disabled daughter Mandy is now 33, has spent years as a disabled people's voluntary worker including helping to run the specialist group SIGMA in Preston Street, Bradford.

"It should have been for her because without her nothing would have been achieved," she said.

"You don't think about awards in any way. If I didn't have a daughter with a learning disability I wouldn't have done any of it."

Other recipients in the Honours List include the architects of the Northern agreement including former Prime Minister John Major who becomes a Companion of Honour for his key role in the laying the ground to the historic Good Friday pact. From show business, actor Nigel Hawthorne becomes a knight, as does Frank Williams from the world of Formula One.

Bradford nurses Mavis Watson and Brenda Horne have been honoured for their years of dedication to their patients with an OBE and MBE respectively.

Other recipients in the Bradford district include MBEs for T&A Yorkshire observer correspondent Geoffrey Vere, founder of the Ilkley and District Council for Voluntary Service; for Bradford businessman Nirmal Singh for his services to community relations; for bus driver Trevor Foster, of Drighlington, for services to public transport, for Keighley historian Ian Dewhirst for his services to local history; for Jack Walker, of Baildon, for his work at the Inland Revenue's account office at Shipley, and an OBE for Austin Tighe, deputy officer in charge of HM Board of Inland Revenue in Blaise Way, Bradford.

Unsung heroes

Honours for 'Mr History'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.