A host of sports stars have been rewarded in the New Near Honours.

England pace bowler Angus Fraser, the hero of last summer when he took 54 test wickets, gets an MBE. Fraser is regarded as the best England fast bowler of his generation.

Former England football captain Stuart Pearce, also gets an MBE. Even though he is in his mid-30s, Pearce is still playing in the Premiership for Ruud Gullit's Newcastle United team.

There is a CBE for Trevor Brooking, the TV soccer pundit and former England and West Ham star who lives at Hutton.

"It is a special honour," said Brooking. "I was awarded the MBE in 1981, and that was related to football whereas this one is linked to my role on the Sports Council.

"It is nice from a family point of view because the work takes up such a lot of time. This shows it is beginning to make an impact."

Formula One motor-racing team boss Frank Williams, who has been wheelchair-bound since an car accident in Monte Carlo 12 years ago, receives a knighthood.

"I am surprised and very happy that I have received such an important honour,"said Williams.

"Additionally, I am truly delighted that the team's achievements in grand prix racing have been recognised in this way."

Jimmy White, regarded as the most popular of the current generation of snooker players, gets an MBE. He has suffered the trauma of losing five World Championship finals in a row.

Prince Naseem Hamed, the World Boxing Organisation's featherweight champion, gets an MBE. His astonishing record shows 31 wins in 31 fights, including 28 knockouts.

Hamed's former trainer, Brendan Ingle, also gets an MBE. The two split up recently after Ingle's reportedly "shock revelations in his book that left Naz feeling betrayed and angry''.

Ingle's award is for services to disadvantaged young people and to boxing.

St Helens-born Alex Murphy, one of this generation's characters of rugby league, gets an OBE.

There is also an OBE for Pat Smith, lately deputy chief executive of the Football Association, who has always been regarded as the first lady of football.

Denise Lewis, the European and Commonwealth heptathlete gold medallist, who was runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year earlier this month, gets an MBE.

There is an OBE for Sally Stapleford, President of the National Ice Skating Association, who was five times British women's figure skating champion.

The so-called bowling postman, Edinburgh-born Richard Corsie, one-time chairman of the Professional Bowls Association, gets an MBE. Craig Reedie, chairman of the British Olympics Association, receives a CBE.

Horse racing doyen, Captain Tim Forster, who recently retired after a training career spanning 36 years, gets an OBE.

Janice Burton, a successful blind swimmer in the Paralympic Games, receives an MBE for her work on behalf of disabled sportsmen and women, particularly the visually impaired.

Angus Fraser - the cricketer, currently with the England Ashes squad in Australia, was bowled over with his MBE

(Right) Frank Williams - formula for a knighthood

Jimmy White - snooker ace potted an MBE

(Right) Prince Naseem Hamed - boxing clever with an MBE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.