A theatre director, mental health campaigner and strictly-Orthodox headteacher are among those to receive honours in the New Years Honours List.

National Theatre director, Nicholas Hytner, 53, has received a knighthood for services to drama.

Sir Nicholas was a Manchester Reform congregant in his youth and went on to direct Miss Saigon, His Dark Materials and both the film and theatre version of The History Boys.

He said: “I’m delighted and flattered.”

Sir Ralph Kohn received a knighthood for his services to science, music and charity.

The 82-year-old retired pharmacologist set up the Kohn Foundation which supports scientific, medical and artistic projects in 1995.

He commented: “To be granted in life the privilege to do the things one loves and cherishes and furthermore to be honoured for it is more than one can wish for or expect.”

David Goldstone, a member of the advisory board of the Jewish Volunteering Network received a CBE for public service.

He said: “It’s very gratifying to be awarded a CBE and I’m very pleased at being granted this honour. It’s not for the recipient to say whether they deserve it, it’s for those that grant the award to decide – and I can only concur with their judgement.”

Lady Rosa Lipworth was awarded a CBE for services to charity, after holding fundraisers in her St John’s Wood home.

She said: “I was delighted to get it – I give my house for a lot for charities, Jewish charities and others and they’ll do a fundraising event it can be a concert or, very rarely, a fashion show.”

Marion Janner, the daughter or Lord Janner, has received an OBE for services to mental health.

Ms Janner, who has a mental illness herself, founded the national Star Wards mental health project.

She said: “Getting an OBE is a reflection that with tenacious specialist professionals, someone with what was historically regarded as an untreatable mental illness – borderline personality disorder – can make a significant contribution to others

Charles Roland Wolf, a professor of Molecular Pharmacology in Dundee, received an OBE for his services to science.

Professor Wolf, whose father fled Berlin as a refugee in 1936, said: “I think with anything like this you have to feel honoured that somebody’s thought you were worthy of this kind of award, there’s a lot of smart, good, and deserving people out there.”

Harold Newman, the former chairman of AJEX, received an MBE for his services to the community in Mill Hill.

The 75-year-old, who has run five marathons for charity, said: “I am absolutely over the moon about getting an MBE but I feel like although I am receiving it I am receiving it on behalf of a large group of people including my wife.

“I’m delighted to have received anything, it came like a bolt out of the blew. My wife applied two years ago and it’s taken two years for the process to come through the cabinet office.”

Ezriel Salomon, 67, received an MBE for his services to the community in Gateshead. Two years ago, Mr Salomon retired after 42 years as headteacher of the Gateshead Jewish Primary School. He is also the founding member of the Jewish Community Council of Gateshead, works with special needs children and is a community liason with Northumbria Police.

He said: “I feel very humbled and honoured. I didn’t expect this award but apparently people in the council and police wanted it. I feel very much fulfilled with what I have achieved with my teaching.”