BOLTON'S first Man of the Year has been honoured for his services to the community in the town in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Uttambhai Dahya Mistry, JP, who receives the MBE, was among a host of people from Bolton to be handed awards.

They include John Christopher Lowry, chairman of the Standing Dental Advisory Committee and former police officer Mohammed Shafiq.

Mr Mistry will add his MBE to his accolade as Bolton's first Man of the Year at the inaugural awards in 2001. He is rewarded for the work he has done in the community since he arrived in the town from Kenya in 1969.

He has been instrumental in developing various initiatives in Bolton for many years. He is a JP, a member of the Bolton Council for Voluntary Services and Bolton Community Health Council and was a leading light in the formation of the Bolton Hindu Forum where no less than 22 local organisations were reconciled into a single inclusive vision.

Mr Mistry said: "I'm pleasantly surprised. I think Man of the Year was a unique title for me because it was the first time that award had been made and it marked by contribution to Bolton.

"The MBE is not just for me, though. It marks the achievement and impact of all the voluntary organisations which have helped me in the past."

Former police officer Mohammed Shafiq was the first Asian to join the Greater Manchester force when it was formed in 1974 and he has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the birthday honours.

The 51-year-old was a detective inspector when he retired after 30 years service earlier this year.

He served for five years as an operational officer in the Bolton area. During his service, Mr Shafiq received four commendations.

Mr Shafiq is married, has three children and lives in the Radcliffe area.

Surgeon John Lowry receives the CBE for services to Hospital Dental Surgery. The chairman of the Standing Dental Advisory Committee is aged 61 and has been a consultant maxillofacial and oral surgeon at the Royal Bolton Hospital since 1976.

He said: "My wife and I have had to keep our mouths sealed over this but we've been so excited."

Christine Knott, Greater Manchester's chief officer of probation, has been awarded a CBE.

A graduate of Somerville College, Oxford, the Bolton woman joined Greater Manchester Probation in 1994, becoming chief in 1998.

A CBE is given to Gordon Hextall, Chief Operating Officer of Programme and Systems Delivery at the Department for Work and Pensions.

MBEs are awarded to Bolton people Gilbert Ainslie Dures, for services to Older People in Bury; Ernest Stillfried Guild, the director of the British Wheelchair Athletics Association for services to Disabled Sports; Mrs Ellen Mulvey, for services to Ex-Service Personnel in Broughton House Home, Salford, and Constable Stuart James Pizzey, from Boothstown, for services to the police.