MILFORD environmental campaigner Kathy Smyth, the brains behind a pioneering scheme to power local schools by solar panels, has been appointed an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

Woolmer Hill School, in Haslemere, Rodborough in Milford and Godalming College are among the 10 sites now benefiting from the forward-thinking Wey Valley Solar Schools co-operative, which Mrs Smyth helped found in 2011.

The policy director for Community Energy England has been honoured for services to the community energy sector.

She said: “I am passionate about the need to protect the planet from the impacts of climate change and community energy offers a practical way for individuals like myself to make a positive contribution. I am surprised and delighted to receive the MBE which came completely out of the blue.

“Community energy is the term we use when groups of people come together to develop and manage low carbon heat projects – such as biomass and power projects such as solar panels or wind turbines – on a non-domestic scale.

“We call it community energy because these schemes bring energy into common ownership.

“Getting such schemes up and running takes an enormous amount of hard work and dedication by those involved who are usually volunteers and there are often many setbacks.

“Members of community energy groups are generally motivated by their desire to make a direct contribution to tackling climate change and contributing to energy security through the harnessing of the Earth’s natural resources but a good, ethical and well-run community scheme will also put benefits back into its community when it has the surplus and resources to do so.

“As an elected board member of Community Energy England it is a privilege to represent these groups and help to give them a voice at national level.

“Locally I’m part of a fantastic network of individuals who share my beliefs and values so I’m very much part of a team and very proud of what we have all achieved by working together.”

The Wey Valley Solar Schools co-operative scheme was launched in 2011 with £625,000 raised from individual investors.

The schools gained renewable energy free of charge or discounted to help manage and reduce their energy costs and also receive half the co-operative’s net income. The six founder schools have so far received an equal share of £8,700.

Community Foundation for Surrey’s executive director Wendy Varcoe said: “Kathy has been working with us for a number of years by supporting community energy projects in the area.

“We are delighted her work has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

“She has also been the driving force behind a recent project to introduce energy saving LED lighting at Green Oak Church of England Primary School, in Godalming, which has been highly successful – and which has the potential to be rolled out to other community buildings to help reduce their energy costs and improve the quality of their lighting.”

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge was made a CBE in the honours announced last Friday.

Mr Hodge, who has been council leader since 2011, was awarded the CBE for services to local government and charity.

The Tory said: “I’m delighted and honoured to receive this accolade, which is really a tribute to the tireless work of thousands of council and charity workers who deliver services to the people of Surrey.

“It’s a huge privilege to serve the residents of Surrey as a councillor and as its leader and I’m determined to carry on doing all I can to stand up for the county, including when it comes to highlighting the funding pressures we’re facing.”

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, the University of Surrey’s associate dean for medicine, was made an MBE for services to general practice. A GP for 28 years and an academic medical educator, Professor Hawthorne is also vice chair of professional development at the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Paralympian Rachel Morris, from Farnham, was made an MBE for services to rowing. She won gold in Rio, having won medals in cycling in London and Beijing.