PROFESSIONAL golfer Georgia Hall is among those recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

The 23-year-old British Open champion has been awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to golf.

Bournemouth-born Georgia is a former pupil of the town’s LeAF Studio in Kinson and enjoyed a hugely successful junior and amateur career.

She turned professional at the age of 18 and soon made her mark, being named European number one in 2017 and 2018.

In August last year she took the British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes with a two-shot victory.

She said: “I am unbelievably honoured to be receiving an MBE. It has been so hard for me to keep this exciting news a secret from my family and friends so I am really happy to be able to talk about it now.

“It’s a huge boost for my confidence ahead of a busy summer of tournaments and I think it’s so awesome for women’s golf to be recognised in this way.

“I literally can’t wait to go to St James’ Palace and, when I get my next bit of time off, my mum and I will definitely be focusing on getting our outfits sorted.”

Wimborne resident Howard Ramm, 48, has received a similar award for services to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Mr Ramm specialises in education and awareness in a bid to keep people safe on the water and he was behind the launch of the SwimSafe programme.

He also established the RNLI’s Flood Rescue Team, which has aided 750 people nationally and internationally and saved 36 lives.

His team was awarded the RNLI gallantry medal for bravery after responding to devastating floods in Devon.

Shirley Sorbie from Ferndown has also been awarded an MBE for services to children with disabilities in Dorset.

Mrs Sorbie has dedicated her life to the Dorset Deaf Children’s Society for 27 years, giving emotional and practical help to 150 families.

She contributed to the development of the New-born Hearing Screening Programme and devotes many hours to the society while looking after her family.

Mrs Sorbie has three children, two of whom are hearing-impaired, as is her husband.

She said: “I have known about the MBE for a month and it’s been really hard keeping it secret. It was a shock and I have been blown away by it.

“I’ve also been quite emotional about it because it means so much to me. I have given a big part of my life to the society and all the children I meet there feel like family to me.”

n Broadcaster Dan Snow, who lives near Exbury in the New Forest, is made MBE for services to history. Dan is the son of TV journalist Peter Snow and a great-great-grandson of David Lloyd George, Britain’s Prime Minister during the First World War.