Two entrepreneurs in the Midlands who have won international acclaim were among those knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours today.

Knighthoods have been awarded to Doug Ellis, the former chairman of Aston Villa Football Club, for his services to charity, as well as to Stafford’s Jonathan Ive, the man behind Apple’s iconic iPad, iPod and iPhone.

Since 87-year-old Ellis stepped down from the helm at Villa Park, he has given around £2.5 million to various charitable causes, after already receiving an OBE for services to football.

Among the most recent donations are new boats for Sri Lankan people in the wake of the devastating Tsunami and to ChildLine in the West Midlands.

Mr Ellis said: “Naturally, I am honoured and delighted. It has been a privilege for me to help so many local institutions and charities to further their work and influence, particularly with an accent on youth and sport.”

Mr Ive has meanwhile revitalised the image of the American business giant Apple, and is being touted by many as the man to step into the shoes of the late founder, Steve Jobs.

Former teachers of the Stafford schoolboy, who went to Walton High, have praised his innovation and attention to detail in his designs. The 44-year-old has since moved to California with his wife Heather Pegg and their twin boys. He said: “To be recognised with this honour is absolutely thrilling and I am both humbled and sincerely grateful.

“I feel enormously fortunate that I continue to be able to design and make products with a truly remarkable group of people here at Apple.”

Among the celebrities receiving honours today were golfers Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke.

Veteran funnyman Ronnie Corbett got a CBE and there were honours for TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, actress Helena Bonham Carter and Sky News’ Alex Crawford, who won acclaim for her reporting from Libya.