ONE of the country’s leading engineers, who was brought up in the Forest, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours.

 Prof Karen Holford first got a taste for engineering helping out at her dad’s garage in Huntley – and being challenged by him to find out about sonic booms when Concorde flew overhead.

She becomes a Commander of the British Empire for services to engineering, in particular for her work in encouraging women into engineering, maths and science.

 Prof Holford is deputy vice chancellor of Cardiff University and worked for Rolls Royce before becoming an academic.

 She is one of five people from the Forest and Wye Valley from entrepreneurs to volunteers who have been awarded honours.