Professor Shamit Saggar, who has lived in Woodside Park for almost 50 years, has been honoured for services to social science and public policy in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Mr Saggar, who is associate pro-vice chancellor at the University of Essex, has been involved with research into public policy and social sciences since gaining his PhD at the university.

He is also director of a network of universityies who develop the next generation of leading researchers in his field.

But Mr Saggar credits his family's support as a important part of his success.

He said: "This is a reflection on those who have supported me throughout: my wife, Rita, my children, Shelley, Shaan, Symran and Reuben, and of course my late father, Krishan Dev Saggar, who sadly passed away exactly a year ago."

His interests in politics first came during his time at Frith Manor school, where he stood as a candidate in a mock election.

After this point Mr Saggar has studied and taught at a number of universities, looking at varied subjects from voting patterns to everyday issues that affect people such as jobs, migration and security.

Mr Saggar said one of his greatest triumphs in his career was to work in strategy in No.10 under the leadership of Tony Blair, advising on domestic policy.

He added: "I am delighted to have been awarded this honour recognising thirty years of academic research that has set out to improve people’s lives in the real world."