He lifted the World Cup in 2003, the only England player to score a try in the tense final against hosts Australia, and led Stockport-based club Sale Sharks to domestic championship glory in 2005/06.

Robinson said of the honour: "I am absolutely delighted to be awarded an OBE. The MBE I received after the 2003 World Cup win was special but this award is just incredible.

"I have had 15 great years in both rugby league and rugby union and have always given my best. I feel blessed that I have been honoured in this way."

After more than 30 years helping the National Association for Gifted Children, she was presented with a longevity award by the charity in November.

And now Judith starts 2008 with an MBE - in recognition of her 34 years raising funds for the Greater Manchester and Cheshire branch, which meets at Marple Hall School each weekend to support gifted children and their families.

Fellow volunteer Vivien Whiteley-Toyn said: "She has been a mainstay of the branch since its inception. Her work is the spadework - sitting on committees, getting fundraising, getting publicity, getting education authorities to listen - it can be crisis point when the children are very small."

She added: "I think it’s very much deserved and I have been saying for the last five years that she should get an award like this. She just gets on with it, not for reward but to make sure the children have family support, a balanced education and are given the chance to develop."

Prof Kushnick, honorary professional fellow in race relations at the University of Manchester, was given the award for services to the community and higher education.

In February 1999 he founded the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre there, in memory of a murdered Manchester school pupil.

Ahmed was just 13 when he was murdered in the playground by a fellow pupil.

The enquiry into his murder concluded that it had been racist and the centre was founded to combat racist ideas.

It provides a range of resources aimed at encouraging self-confidence and pride in black and ethnic minority people, and equipping all communities with the information and knowledge to resist racist appeals.

Prof Kushnick is also a keen fundraiser for Christie Hospital, following the death of his daughter, Alex Hall, in November 2003.

Det Chief Supt Tony Porter started his career in Stockport 25 years ago. He gained significant policing experience before going on to become a sub-divisional commander at Greenheys police station in Moss Side in 1996.

In 2001 he was promoted to Head of Community Affairs and in 2003 became Head of Special Branch. In 2007 he was appointed as Head of the newly formed GMP Counter Terrorism Unit.

Det Chief Supt Porter said: "I am absolutely thrilled. When I got the letter through I thought it must be for someone else, and when I saw it was for me I couldn’t believe it. It has been really difficult not to tell family and friends."

Mrs Aynsley-Smith is director of student services at Manchester Metropolitan University and in her role she ensures students at the university get the support they need to make the most of their time and studies.