Everyday heroes enjoy Honours for dedication

From a bobby to a boxing coach, people from all walks of life in the Black Country and Staffordshire have been recognised in the Queen's New Year's honours list.

As well as the usual bunch of celebrities, including comic Ronnie Corbett and golfer Darren Clarke, a number of everyday heroes have also been given a gong.

Former policeman Malcolm Webb gets an MBE for services to the community in Brewood. The 68-year-old grandfather-of-two was the village bobby for 24 years, retiring in 1993.

Mr Webb, who lives in St Chad's Close with wife Pat, also ran summer activity schemes in the village and launched Brewood Junior Football Club in 1975, which is still active today.

Mr Webb has been a parish councillor for six years and has been chairman of Wolverhampton Sunday Football League for 12 years. The father-of-one said: "My family are really proud. We will be having a little party to celebrate."

After 20 years of visiting some of the poorest parts of the world, Dudley firefighter Rudy Parkes has been awarded an MBE for services to national and international fundraising and voluntary work. Mr Parkes, watch commander at Cradley Heath fire station, has led more than 50 trips to Romania and six to Tanzania with West Midlands Fire Service, helping build orphanages and schools.

The firefighter, of Wollescote, Stourbridge, who is married with a nine-year-old son called William, is also project manager for the Bobby Moore Fund cancer charity, set up in memory of the legendary footballer. He has helped organise 10 building projects in South American countries for the charity.

He said: "This is the best honour I could have possibly received."

Meanwhile, boxing coach Frank O'Sullivan, 75, of Spies Lane, Halesowen, has been awarded the same honour for services to amateur boxing after teaching youngsters on a voluntary basis for many years.

The grandfather of 10 continues to coach new talent at Birmingham City Amateur Boxing Club, which he helped to found in 1977.

Mr O'Sullivan started out as a boxer himself and was expected to turn professional but failed the medical due to an eye problem.

He set up his first club in Ladywood, Birmingham, during the 1950s, training many young fighters who later turned professional including Robert McCracken, Malcolm Mervin and Hugh Forde.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "I was told about it in November and it came as a real surprise."

Former West Mercia Police Superintendent Eddie Barry has also been awarded an MBE for services to charity and the community.

The 76-year-old helped establish the Band of the West Mercia Police in 1988 which has so far raised almost £500,000 for charities and performed all over the country and in Germany.

In 1994, Mr Barry, of Kidderminster, was awarded a Queens Police Medal for his services to the police and local communities. "I'm very proud of my MBE as it just came out of the blue," said Mr Barry, who has been married to his wife Barbara for 53 years. He retired from the police force in 1994 but continues to be chairman of the West Mercia branch of the National Association of Retired Police.

A former deputy headteacher and chairman of the Walsall Magistrates Court bench has been award the MBE for services to the community. Phillip Holmes, who sits on the West Midlands Police Authority, said he was "delighted" to be recognised. The married 71- year-old from Walsall has also chaired the Friends of the Mercian Regiment (Staffords).

Mr Holmes, of Orchard Hills, started his teaching career at the old TP Riley School in Bloxwich, and was deputy head at Wood Green, Wednesbury, for 21 years. He became a JP in 1986 and then chairman of the bench in Walsall before stepping down after 24 years. He met his wife Linda while they worked at the court. He said: "It is a fantastic honour."

Also among the honours is Lichfield man John May, who has been working with Talking Newspapers for the Blind for more than 30 years. A member of Lichfield Lions, he is the chairman of the Lichfield and District Talking Newspaper service, and also works with special schools, raising money for them all.

The 70-year-old said: "It was a big surprise but a very welcome one."

Pamela Lycett was also awarded for her services to hockey in Staffordshire.

Mrs Lycett, of Etchinghill, near Rugeley, has been playing the sport since her school days, initially having to join a team outside of school as she wasn't invited to join the school team.

But she went on to work, umpire and play for Aldridge Hockey Club and is now a life member. She is also an honouree committee member for Stafford Women's Hockey Association. She said: "I am very proud."

Hifsa Haroon Iqbal has been honoured for services to community cohesion in Staffordshire. As equality and diversity officer at Staffordshire University, her responsibility is for race, religion and belief. She is a trustee of Stafford Muslim Community Centre and manages the Muslim Youth Project. She is also a trustee of Stafford District Voluntary Services and a governor of Stafford College. Hifsa also chairs the Stafford Equality Lifelong Learning Centre and Stafford & District Faith Forum, and vice-chair of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education in Staffordshire.

Stephen Edwards, a prison officer for HM Prison Stafford who lives in Rugeley, and Michael Harrison, a former Chief Superintendant for Staffordshire Police, both got the MBE.