“Education, education, education”.
That was the theme of the Queens’s birthday honours celebrations in Huddersfield, with awards for a headteacher, a school caretaker and the top man at the University of Huddersfield.
Mrs Elizabeth Morris, Mrs Barbara Brook and Prof Bob Cryan were all stunned to be named in the list, released today.
Mrs Morris, 61, of Holmfirth, was “humbled” to be awarded an OBE for her work in education as she prepared to retire after 25 years as head of Netherton Infant & Nursery School.
She leaves next month after what she described as an amazing career.
Mrs Morris, who is married to Ray, has worked for Kirklees Council for 40 years and was an advisory teacher for several years before taking up her post at Netherton.
“It is an amazing honour and I am so humbled. I am to retire at the end of term but I have had a rewarding and enriching career. It is all I wanted ever since I was just seven,
“I have loved working with so many youngsters and I have seen pupils grow from tiny tots to wonderful adults now with families of their own”.
Mrs Barbara Brook, 55, has received the British Empire Medal for her hard work as school caretaker at Lowerhouses Junior, Infant and Early Years School.
She retired from the school three months go after 26 years after not only keeping the school spick and span but also devoting an enormous amount of time to the children, many with special needs.
She even learned British Sign Language so he could “talk” with some of the pupils at a school which helps many deaf youngsters.
“I enjoyed every minute of the time I was there”, said Mrs Brook, who has now moved to Halifax with husband John. The couple have two sons and a grandchild.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the honour. I thought it was a joke at first.
“I just loved being a part of the whole school”.
For Prof Bob Cryan, the award of a CBE rounds off a remarkable seven-year stint as Vice Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.
And as he admitted”: It’s not bad, a lad from Deighton getting a CBE”.
Prof Cryan, 50, is honoured for services to higher education but admitted it was an honour for Team Huddersfield, paying tribute to the staff at the University.
In the past few years, Huddersfield has been named University of the Year, been named Entrepreneurial University of the Year and won plaudits for its employment policy.
“I’m stunned. I wasn’t expecting an honour like this.
“I just couldn’t believe it. It was totally unexpected but this is a reward for Team Huddersfield. Everything we have achieved has been down to the hard work and dedication of the staff and students”.
Prof Cryan is married to Kath and has two children Joseph, 18, and Georgia, 16.
Huddersfield magistrate Eileen Marchant has been awarded the MBE for dual roles. Part is for her work to helping local justice but part is for her 30 years of work in local sport. Mrs Marchant, 69, of Almondbury, led the amalgamation of the former Huddersfield and Dewsbury courts into the new Kirklees Magistrates Courts.
She herself has served on the bench since 1987.
She set up the Dragons hockey club in Huddersfield 20 years ago and has worked as a policy adviser and board member of the Association for Physical Education.
“We set up the hockey club for fun but it has proved very successful, running teams at many ages across the region.
“I was stunned when I heard the news about the honour. I have always thought others are far more deserving than I am”.
Huddersfield Scoutleader Graham Smith, 56, joined the Cub Scouts in Crosland Moor at the age of seven - and never left.
Niow he has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his work with the Scouting movement.
Mr Smith, of Scammonden, has held posts with many branches of Scouting and is still very active. He helps out at Bradley Wood Scout Camp, trains people at the Scouting watersports centre at Blackstone Edge and is a district adviser.
Graham, who is married to Christina and has a son Gary, 16, said: “The honour came absolutely, totally, out of the blue.
“I have enjoyed all my work with the Scouts and I’m one very happy bunny”.
Miss Andrea Bryden, of Huddersfield, has been awarded the OBE for her work on equality. She works for HM Revenue and Customs in Bradford.
John Dawson Cotton, chairman of the John Cotton Group, has been awarded the MBE. The group have premises in Mirfield.
Mrs Habian Nisa Zamah, of Dewsbury, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to women in North Kirklees.
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