The 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours List includes the name of Mrs Lilian Thompson, MBE, JP, who has been awarded an OBE for services to the community in Blackpool.

Mrs Thompson, 100, is chair of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and is said to have been testing the amusement park’s new rides well into her 90s.

The Thompson family also owns The Big Blue hotel, which is adjacent to the park and had its official opening on 13 June.