Hampshire men in the honours

From the archive, first published Wednesday 3rd Jan 2007.

PILLARS of the community in Hampshire have been recognised in the New Year Honours List.

Their achievements vary from heading charity campaigns to leading brass bands, but what they have in common is their contribution to the county.

Among those saluted is John Green-Wilkinson, 85, of Abbotts Barton, who has made MBE. He moved to the city in the early 1990s, having left Berkshire after retiring from his job with Chubb Safes. On his arrival in the ancient capital, he was upset by the litter in its streets.

Two other Wintonians, John Edwards and the late Sidney Russell, shared his concerns. In 1995, they created Winchester Litterpickers. Their crusade to clean the streets struck a chord with residents, with dozens asking if they could help. In November 2005, as they marked their tenth anniversary, more than 100 people had joined the group.

It was also at this time that Mr Green-Wilkinson stepped aside as chairman, following a decade in the voluntary post.

However, he is still a member and joked this week that he felt partly responsible for litter problems, given his old job. "I was involved in making the first cash dispensers. Now I'm having to clear up all the slips that come out of them."

Another to be made MBE is Hampshire Constabulary fleet manager, John Bradley. Born and raised in the city, the 59-year-old, now of Kings Worthy, thanked his family and co-workers.

"I'm extremely proud of Hampshire Constabulary and would like to accept this on behalf of all police officers and staff and those members of the transport department, past and present, that have given me tremendous support over nearly 40 years.

He added that his partner, Jan Prendergast, and mother, 83-year-old Nina Bradley, were a great support, as were his two stepsons, Lee and Paul, and sister, Ann Masters.

Mr Bradley said he was "elated" and "honoured" to have received the accolade, which he said was like getting an extra Christmas present.

Starting his career in 1968 working in stores, he was promoted to supervisor and acquisitions officer before being named fleet manager in 1994. Under him, the department has won awards for risk management and environmental work. He was also named fleet manager of the year by Fleet News, considered as the "Oscar" for the industry.

Another Hampshire man recognised is Eric Birbeck, who has lived in Bishop's Waltham for 20 years and has been appointed a Member of Royal Victorian Order, given to those who perform personal service to the Crown. It was created by Queen Victoria in 1896 and is within the gift of the Sovereign.

Between 1991 and 1995, he served on the RY Britannia. The 59-year-old now works as an anaesthetic technical officer at the Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport. He also served on Bishop's Waltham Parish Council for a decade, standing down in May 2006.

Mr Birbeck said he knew about the honour in November, but was still coming to terms with the news.

"I'd gone to work and my wife rang me and said: What have you done?' She said there was a letter from Buckingham Palace marked private and confidential'. I said she should open it, and she read the first paragraph out and started crying.

"I'm deeply touched and totally awed. As the Royal Victorian Order is a personal gift from Her Majesty, it makes it so special for me.

"I've never drunk so much champagne. We went to celebrate with close family in Deal in Kent, where I am from originally, which was lovely.

"Now I have got to look forward to the investiture, which is something you only see on the television and now I will be part of it, although we are not sure of an exact date yet."

He added that his wife hoped to go at the same time as Scottish singer, Rod Stewart, who was made a CBE.

Other award winners included Lt-Col Chris Davis, the Royal Marines Band Service's principal director of music.

The 47-year-old, of Locks Heath, also conducts another group, Otterbourne Brass - formerly City of Winchester Brass - in his spare time. He was awarded the OBE.

The same accolade was given to David Lovell, of Romsey, a veteran of the Ordnance Survey in Southampton and its former public affairs chief.

Alan Blair, appeals director and former chief executive of the Wessex Heartbeat Charity, was also saluted. The 59-year-old from Ashurst was made MBE for his 15 years of fund-raising work.