Holocaust survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and theatre producer Sonia Friedman recognised in Queen's birthday honours

She admitted: “I have a very sober view of honours when you see who gets them, but it’s very nice. I’m pleased at the recognition.

The survivor, who carries out most of her teaching on the Holocaust at schools and universities in Germany, said she goes “go a little bit further than telling my story. I try to make them think about antisemitism.”

Paying tribute, Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “As a cellist in the Auschwitz camp orchestra, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was an eyewitness to one of the Nazis most cynical ploys- the playing of music in a death camp. After the Holocaust she dedicated her time to ensuring her story, and that of millions of others, is never forgotten. On behalf of all of us at the Holocaust Educational Trust, we congratulate her on this richly deserved honour.”

Benita Refson was made a Dame for services to education, with the president of children’s mental health charity Place2Be saying that she saw the honour as “a significant milestone”.

She said that it had been “22 years since Place2Be was founded as a separate charity, and awareness of children's mental health awareness seems to have arrived.

“I consider it a privilege to have had my role in the journey to date and for the road ahead, as there remains so much more to do.”

Emma Samms, who starred in TV shows Dynasty and General Hospital in the 1980s, was made an MBE for her services to seriously and terminally ill children, after co-founding the Starlight Children's Foundation.

Commander James Cohen, 58, was awarded the Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal after retiring in March following 37 years in the Royal Naval Reserve. He said that the award was “very surprising and rather humbling.”

He explained that he had joined up because “my father and grandfather were in the Reserve, so you could say it’s slightly genetic".

Neil Martin, chief executive of JLGB (Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade) was made an OBE for services to young people and interfaith relations. He said he was “very proud of what it means for the Jewish youth sector.

“Too many stories in wider society and the press are negative about young people, but we see only the best in them. We work with tens of thousands of youngsters to help them gain skills for the future and get the confidence they need.

“I’m pleased that it’s been recognised so publically, and on the Queen’s 90th birthday.”

He admitted that he “thought it was a joke” when he opened the envelope, but said that once the news had sunk in, being made an OBE “validated the hard work” he had put in over the years.

“My mum, dad and girlfriend have been counting down the days for about six weeks, desperate to tell everyone and under strict instructions from me not to,” he added.

“They're very proud of me. It’s for them just as much as it is for me.”

Mr Martin is also chairman of Yom HaShoah UK, and chairs the Interfaith Youth Trust.

Sports journalist Anna Kessel, who co-founded Women in Football to support and promote women working in and around the sport, has been made an MBE.

After 12 years of campaigning for gender equality, she said it felt “strange to be the person who has been recognised, but also really special.

“My husband knows, because he was the first one to see the letter and made a joke, like ‘it must be an honour.’ I’ll tell my mum and dad tonight.”

Though she said that the national culture had shifted towards gender equality, there was still a lot of work to do.

“I don’t think these issues were on the radar even five years ago. London 2012 had a massive role to play, because people like Jessica Ennis-Hill became household names and people became excited about women’s sports, which they weren’t before.

“The MBE is a symbol of that, of the increased profile for this subject.”

She admitted: “When I was a kid, I bunked all of my PE lessons,” and said that her aim now was to attract “more ordinary women to be turned on to sport and physical activity, because too many are alienated at a young age by the culture we live in.”

Ian Rosenblatt, 56, was made OBE for philanthropic services to music. The London-based founder of the Rosenblatt Recitals Series said he was “pleased as punch” with the news.

“I’m chuffed. And it’s all down to my family. I would have done it anyway, but the award is the icing on the cake. Not even remotely did I expect it. It was a complete gobsmacking surprise.

“I haven’t told anybody - I’m waiting for everyone to splutter over their tea and coffee in the morning when they read the paper.”

Malcolm Livingstone, 70, was made an MBE for services to Jewish community in Glasgow after more than 50 years of voluntary work.

He said he was “delighted” with the honour, which recognised his service as life president at Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation - where he has also been a secretary and chairman - and 16 years as chairman of the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust.

“I’ve had local recognition occasionally, but nothing like this.”

Michael Simons, who has lived in Sutton for all of his 55 years, was made an MBE for his years of service in Parliament and his voluntary work at Sutton United Synagogue.

Mohammed Amin, founder of the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester, was made an MBE for services to community cohesion and interfaith relations, which he said had a broader significance.

“I was born in Pakistan and grew up in a very small minority here. I’ve felt British for a long time, but it’s great to be recognised as an Officer of the British Empire.

“The more people from minorities who receives honours like this, the more people will believe that everybody is a part of British society. Too often, even though the Prime Minister says we are one society, it’s not believed. And this can be a part of making people believe that.”

London-based entrepreneur Saul Klein, the co-founder of Lovefilm, was made an OBE for services to business while Professor Anthony Finkelstein, professor of software systems engineering at University College London and the Alan Turing Institute, was appointed a CBE for services to computer science and engineering.

Rachel Hopcroft, principal private secretary to the Cabinet Secretary, was appointed a CBE for public service.

Debbie Wosskow, founder and chief executive of Love Home Swap - a home exchange website which now has more than 90,000 registered homes - was made an OBE for services to business.

Jack Morris, chairman of the Business Design Centre Group, was made a CBE for services to business and charity in London. He was previously awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to further education.

The Business Design Centre celebrates thirty years in business this year and when it opened in 1986 was widely recognised as being the catalyst for the successful regeneration of the Angel, Islington area of London.

Mr Morris said: “I am absolutely delighted and very moved to be receiving this honour. It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to be surrounded by a loving family and to work with so many marvellous people in my business, charity and voluntary activities. I am deeply grateful for their help and support in whatever I've managed to achieve and feel this honour is also very much a tribute to them.”

Judy Dewinter, chairman of cancer charity Myeloma UK, was made an OBE for her charitable and voluntary services to cancer research. She took over Myeloma UK shortly after being diagnosed with myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, at the age of 33.

Professor Celia Moss, consultant in paediatric dermatology at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, was appointed an OBE for services to paediatric dermatology.

Prof Moss has made significant advances in the treatment of childhood skin diseases through her research and treatment of patients. Since her retirement, she has worked in Nepal to establish training in this often neglected speciality.

She said: “I feel highly honoured but also very fortunate, as I’m just doing what I really enjoy doing.

“I’m so grateful to my colleagues at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and proud to be part of a wonderful team dedicated to caring for and supporting young people.”

Also made an OBE was Alex Chesterman, founder and chairman of property website Zoopla. He was honoured for services to digital entrepreneurship.