FORMER Skipton man Peter Foster was awarded an OBE in this year’s Honours list.

Mr Foster - son of Shirley and the late William Foster, of Skipton and Calton, and brother of Skipton solicitor Robert Foster- was honoured for services to British aviation in Kazakhstan.

Since 2005, he has been president and chief executive officer of Air Astana, the award-winning airline of Kazakhstan, in which the Lancashire-based BAE Systems PLC holds a 49 per cent stake.

Aged 54, Peter was educated at Water Street School Skipton, Malsis School, Glusburn, Rugby School and Cambridge University, prior to starting a career in the airline industry.

His 32-year career included 17 years at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways, the founding family of which originates from Cononley.