THE FOUNDER of a charity music festival in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Susie Gregson, 53, will bring in the new year with a few close friends to celebrate her MBE.

The mother-of-three, who established the Proms at St Jude's in 1993, said she was “thrilled” to receive the award.

In 2010, the nine-day midsummer music and culture festival managed to raise £60,000 for Toynbee Hall, an East London based support charity, and North London Hospice, in North Finchley.

Susie Gregson said: “I'm absolutely delighted, very humbled really. I think it is probably mostly for the work I've done with the music festival, Proms at St Jude's, but I have been a community person all my life.

“I'm chairman of the old girls at Henrietta Barnett School and I've lived in the Suburb forever, but the really very special thing is Proms at St Jude's - which is so wonderful at bringing all sides of our community together.

“It's a positive happy event, and it's a win for the charities that benefit at the end.

“We work together with an amazing committee of about 14 of us, and the age range is something like 23 to mid 80s. Everybody pulls their weight, it's the most fantastic committee.

“The MBE is a win for the Proms, its not really in my view just for me because Proms wouldn't be the success it is without lots of other people.”

Susie said she was not sure who had put her name forward for the award, but said it would not change her and she would remain “the same old Susie”.

Other local residents recognised in the New Year Honours list were:

Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield, for services to British Reform Judaism.

Sarah Aaronson for services to music and charity.

Andrew Fleming for work as the chief executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.