The New Year's honours are revealed tonight and Marsden is one area celebrating!

Two men who have devoted much of their lives to youngsters in the village have today been honoured.

George Crowther Beardsall, 79, and David Eric Wilkins, 67, who both live in Marsden, have each received the British Empire Medal  in the New Year Honours.

They are among six people from Huddersfield and Calderdale recognised in the honours list.

But Mr Beardsall insisted it was the help and support of many others that should be recognised.

Mr Beardsall, of Wood Top, Marsden, was a director of the textile firm John Edward Crowther for many years. He is married to Enid and the couple have two sons and a daughter and five grandchildren.

He was the instigator, unpaid volunteer and chairman at both the Marsden Open Youth Club between 1974 and 2004 and the Marsden Sports Hall since 1988.

In 1974, with the help of his wife, he created and supervised a pre-school playgroup in the village which is still running today.

In 1988, at his suggestion, another unused building in Fall Lane was created into a hall which was used for sporting activities. He was also involved in the fund raising activities which were organised to refurbish this building.

Mr Beardsall said: “I thought the award had gone to the wrong person when I was told about it.

“I know that everything I have done has been dependent on the hard work of so many willing volunteers”.

Mr Wilkins, of Lane Top, Marsden, was a young boy of 11 at the inaugural meeting of the 14th Huddersfield (United Church Marsden) Scout Group in 1957.

Now he is the Group Scout Leader and has been honoured for his services to Scouting and also for his work with the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team since 1977.

Mr Wilkins has been involved with the village Scouts ever since that first meeting, holding various leader's warrants. He has been Group Scout Leader since 1982 and also held posts at District level.

He is married to Joanna and they have a son, Matthew.

“The honour was something I never sought or looked for.

“I have just got on with the jobs I have had with the Scouts and with other groups in the village.

“I can’t believe it”.

Firefighter Simon Pilling is awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

The 47-year-old took over as West Yorkshire’s fire chief in 2008.

And in doing so he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather. James Henry Pilling became Chief Fire Officer of Leeds City Fire Brigade in 1948, also aged 42.

After joining the West Yorkshire service 28 years ago Mr Pilling, of Skelmanthorpe,  was posted to Ossett fire station as a firefighter.

He has also served in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Hunslet and Bingley, as well as at the staff office.

Mr Pilling is married to Kathryn and has a son, Harry. His hobbies include music, sports, walking and renovating his farmhouse.

An Elland man who was chosen to  lead a 58,000-member charitable organisation receives an OBE.

Businessman Allan Jagger was president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and also heads a major training organisation in Huddersfield and Calderdale.

Mr Jagger joined Elland Rotary Club in 1983 and was district governor in 1999-2000.

Mr Jagger founded Ardeth Engineering in Elland to provide process equipment for the petro-chemical, water and chemical industries. He sold the business to a management team in 2004.

He now chairs Brighouse-based Kirkdale Industrial Training Services and has been honoured both for his services to young people and his work for charity.

Another Calderdale man has been honoured for his services to sport.

Malcolm Kielty, 63, of Halifax,  has been awarded an MBE for his services to wheelchair rugby league.

He has helped introduce many thousands of disabled people to the sport, having himself suffered from polio since the age of 16.

Mr Kielty founded Bradshaw Junior Rugby League Club when he was just 17 and later went on to establish the Greetland Allrounders Club.

 Since 2003 he has led the Calderdale Community Coaching Trust and is a Regional Rugby League Development Officer for Calderdale.

An MBE also goes to Capt Malcolm Peter Birkett, who serves with The Yorkshire Regiment.

New Year's Honours: Ruth Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Karren Brady and more get gongs - see awards here