A former trade union leader made a CBE in the New Year’s Honours said it came as a “complete surprise”.

Fred Jarvis, 90, the former general secretary of the NUT teaching union, was made a CBE for parliamentary and political services.

Mr Jarvis, who has lived in Hadley Road, New Barnet, for more than 50 years, said: “It’s nice to receive it on behalf of all the people I have worked with over the years. I’ve done a lot of campaigning with a lot of people and organisations, so it’s something to share with them.

“A lot of friends have been very kind, saying it’s something I deserve. That’s for other people to judge.”

A lifelong supporter of West Ham United, Mr Jarvis has been involved in education for more than 60 years, serving as president of the National Union of Students from 1952 to 1954, and general secretary of the NUT between 1975 and 1989.

Although he said that he was “puzzled” that the honour made no reference to his work in education, Mr Jarvis said that “since a good deal of my work was devoted to parliamentary and political activity I agreed to accept the award.”

He said he had celebrated with friends over a glass of champagne, and added: “The whole purpose in my life has been to show people how fundamentally important education is. That’s why I have devoted my whole life to it.”

Since retiring, Mr Jarvis has continued his campaign work, serving as convenor of the New Visions for Education group since its foundation more than 20 years ago.

He published his autobiography You Never Know Your Luck last year.

His daughter, Jacqueline, chose to follow him into education, and is currently a dean at Northampton University, while his son, Robin, works in the NHS in Wales.

His wife, Anne, died in 2007.

Mr Jarvis has also received the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by the NUS, and the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Times Educational Supplement (TES).