A COUPLE who have fostered up to 150 children over more than three decades have both been appointed MBEs in the New Year Honours announced today.

Clive and Sharon Cumming, from Kingswood, said they were both astonished to receive the accolade.

They were among a string of local people to receive honours, including Bristol University professor Jean Golding and businessman and former cricketer Giles Clarke.

Mr Cumming, 68, and his wife, 63, could not believe their eyes when they opened two letters from the Cabinet Office telling them of the honours a few weeks ago.

Mr Cumming, a retired MoD commercial manager, said: "I think it is quite unusual for a couple to both be appointed MBEs, so we are delighted.

"I am astonished that we received the honours, but I like to think of it as a reward and some recognition for the good work that all foster carers do."

The pair have been looking after children since 1975, when they watched a programme about the need for foster carers.

"I thought about it and after a lot of interviews and form-filling, our first child came to us," said Mrs Cumming.

"She was 13 years old and all she had with her was one soft toy and a black bin bag. At dinner time she would eat only what she needed and then offer her food to everyone else at the table as she had been doing at the children's home.

"We had to tell her she didn't need to do that and teach her a new routine and way of being."

The couple, who have two daughters and a son of their own, continued to foster during a move to Germany for Mr Cumming's job and after their return to the UK in 1983.

"Everything always had to fit in with the children," said Mr Cumming. I'd go out to work during the day and Sharon would work in the evenings.

"It was difficult at times but it was always worth it. Most of all we wanted to give these children safety and security and a family they could feel they were a part of."

The couple mainly fostered children aged 10 and over, many of whom had behavioural problems, troubled backgrounds, or could no longer live with their biological parents for a number of reasons.

They were also put on the emergency fostering list, where they could find themselves telephoned at 2am by a police officer who needed to find a safe place for a young person to stay.

In 1995 the family moved to Bristol, where Mr Cumming began working at Abbey Wood. They moved to the four-bedroom detached house in Kingswood, where they still live.

They have continued fostering with Bristol City Council and could have up to three children living with them at any one time.

Out of the 150 children they have fostered in more than 35 years they have only had to ask social services to take back one child, after his behaviour became too disruptive for others in their care.

The couple have a good relationship with many of the children, who are now grown-up and have successful lives.

"It's always an emotional wrench when they leave us," said Mr Cumming. "We treat them as members of the family and are always sad to see them go.

"It's great when we meet up again and see them with their own children, or their own houses or good jobs.

"We always like to feel they learned something being with us, even if it's just to say please and thank you."

One of the children they fostered, Mirry Derek, now 21, now lives in their converted garage.

She was fostered by the Cummings when she was nine years old because her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis and found it difficult to look after her.

Ms Derek, who is now a care assistant, has nothing but praise for the couple, whom she calls nan and grandad.

"They are amazing – they completely changed my life," she said.

"I had no one else to look after me and they helped and supported me and made me feel like one of the family. I didn't feel like an outsider. I like living near them and don't really want to leave now – they're my family."

The couple are still fostering and currently have three children placed with them.

Mrs Cumming said: "I think fostering has made me feel like a younger person. I can still keep up with all of them and am in the know about all their favourite music and the bands they like.

"It's a reason to get up everyday – it's my life and I love it.

"I won't be stopping anytime soon, as long as there are children to be fostered we'll be doing it."

City council leader Barbara Janke said: "Sharon and Clive have shown how a loving and secure home can transform a teenager's life.

"Bristol is indeed fortunate to have such dedicated people. They are powerful advocates for the service and I hope Sharon and Clive's story will inspire many more people to come forward to find out more about fostering."

Also appointed MBE, for services to the community, is Roy Stone, 82, below, who has served on local councils, been a governor of two schools, trustee of a heritage museum's trust and an active member of the Rotary Club. Although for many people he is "Mr Kingswood", the 82-year-old played down the impact he has made in South Gloucestershire, saying it was down to the people he worked with.

Mr Stone attended Cadbury Heath Primary School aged three and has lived in the area his whole life.

He returned to the school in his 20s and served for 56 years as a governor, while he worked at Fry's chocolate factory in Keynsham. He has also served as a chairman of governors at Sir Bernard Lovell School.

At Cadbury Heath he ensured the school had a phone for the first time, raised funds with book sales, fought for crossing patrols and visited classrooms to give young pupils an insight into its history.

He was also instrumental in the move to the new buildings in 1992.

He was a local councillor, first on Gloucestershire County Council and then on Kingswood Borough Council, for more than 30 years.

He worked in production at Fry's until 1965, when he and his wife Betty set up a greengrocers on Soundwell Road in Staple Hill, which they ran for 20 years. He has also been a keen historian, working at the Kingswood Heritage Museum and writing a book on the history of the school.

He said: "It was a bit of a shock when I got the letter and I still have no idea who nominated me. I've had to cut down on a lot of my activities because I'm a cancer sufferer but I still get to a Rotary Club meeting when I can. I don't really know how I got involved with so many things but I have enjoyed everything I've done."

Bristol businessman and chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board Giles Clarke has been appointed CBE for his services to cricket. Mr Clarke, above right, comes from one of the most influential families in the city and is a former head of the Merchant Venturers organisation.

Mr Clarke is a successful businessman, having built Majestic Wine, Pet City and self-storage company Safestore into household names during his career. The honour makes it a hat-trick for the family as both Mr Clarke's parents Charles – who founded one of the South West's biggest law firms, Osborne Clarke – and Stella were appointed CBEs.

The 58-year-old has been named on the Honours list thanks to his work in the world of cricket rather than business.

During his tenure as ECB chairman he has overseen a period of unprecedented success.

The national Test side is currently ranked number one in the world and grass roots interest in the sport is the highest it has been for many years.

Mr Clarke, who lives in North Somerset, said: "I do not look on this as a personal honour. I see this as an honour for all the volunteers who work so hard in the sport to make it so successful."

Bristol University's professor Jean Golding, founder of the landmark Children Of The 90s child health research project, is appointed OBE for services to medical science.

"It was a real surprise – a delightful surprise," she said. "Especially as 2012 is the 21st anniversary year for the Children of the 90s project – it makes it all particularly special."

Prof Golding, of Clevedon, devised the study at Bristol University in 1991, under the less snappy title of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children – or ALSPAC.

The project began with researchers recording every detail of more than 14,000 pregnancies. The majority of the babies would go on to have their entire lives recorded for the benefit of medical science.

"The idea is that we have no idea what benefit future scientists could gather from having as much information as possible about people's lives," she explained.

"When we started, I knew we were beginning something very big – something that would be going on long after we were, as long as the funding could be maintained. But I don't think we imagined just how many medical discoveries would be made on the back of the data in the first two decades alone. It really has been remarkable – everything from allergies to infant development being highlighted using the data – there are more than 1,000 research scientists using the data around the world at any time."

The 72-year-old, who retired from leading the project seven years ago, now works on research into baby development using the data her project collected 21 years ago.

She said: "The OBE is an honour not just for me but for the many participants and members of staff that contributed to the many studies I have been involved with, especially those here in Bristol on the Children of the 90s."

Another professor, Derek Offord, is appointed OBE for services to Russian studies in language and culture.

Professor Offord taught Russian studies at Bristol University from 1975 until his retirement in July.

He is a specialist in 18th and 19th century Russian history, thought and literature and is author of two widely used books on the modern Russian language.

During the 1980s he played a leading role in the organisation of educational exchange between Britain and the then Soviet Union.

He continues to work part-time on a research project which will look at the history of the French language in Russia from the mid-18th century to the early 20th century. "I was surprised and delighted to receive the letter," said Prof Offord, who lives in Clifton. "It was definitely unexpected but it's nice to have it just after I've retired.

"I've always loved both teaching and researching – the two things go hand in hand."

Farmer and businesswoman Mary Mead, right, has been appointed CBE in recognition of five decades of work in sustainable dairy farming.

Mrs Mead set up Holt Farm in Blagdon, North Somerset, with her husband Roger in 1961 and the company has since grown into Yeo Valley, the country's most successful organic businesses.

As well as being the country's biggest producer of organic yoghurt the company is also seen as leading the way in sustainable farming methods. Earlier this year the company landed an unprecedented third Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of its organic approach to farming and food production. The company employs around 1,500 staff and has an annual turnover approaching £250 million. Mary and her late husband moved to Holt Farm on the edge of Blagdon Lake in 1961.

Starting with a tea room on the farm, using homemade clotted cream and freshly baked scones, the couple used the left-over skimmed milk to make the very first batches of Yeo Valley yoghurt.

Well-known Bristol businessman Grant Watson has also been appointed OBE.

The chartered surveyor, who lives in Abbots Leigh, started work in 1957 earning £2 a week at what was then Stanley Alder and Price. Mr Watson is now chairman of Bristol firm Alder King Property Consultants, and has advised on many major building projects in Bristol and throughout the South West.

He is a past master of the Bristol Guild of Guardians and past president of both Bristol Rotary Club and Bristol Property Agents Association.

He has been named on the Honours List in recognition of his work on the regeneration of Newport, South Wales.

In October he retired as chairman of Newport Unlimited after being in the role since 2004.

During his time on the board the firm helped to create more than 3,000 full-time jobs and a contribution of £218 million towards Newport's economy.

Alexander Whitfield, a counsellor with Third Sector Solutions, an employment and training company based in Easton, was also appointed MBE for services to job seekers in Bristol.