Woman skipped with joy after getting MBE letter

A woman from Nottingham said she skipped around the room with joy when she found out she was being named in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Merlita Bryan has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to the black community in the city and the wider East Midlands.

Mrs Bryan was the first African Caribbean woman to become Sheriff of Nottingham, served for 16 years as a councillor and is a former lord mayor of the city.

She founded the Black Achievers Awards in 2011 to celebrate the achievements of black and minority ethnic individuals, and has been recognised for her work to reshape negative stereotypes.

"I can't believe it," the 74-year-old the BBC.

"I'd been to the gym and there was a pile of letters when I got home - one of which was in a yellow envelope marked cabinet office.

"I thought 'what kind of trouble am I in now?'

"But when I opened it, it was such a lovely surprise. I didn't know what to do so I just skipped around the room and jumped up and down."

The Cabinet Office said Mrs Bryan had shown "a tireless dedication to social justice, community engagement, and the promotion of equality".

Among the other people from Nottinghamshire to be honoured was 80-year-old Rita McCall, who was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Newark.

The former secondary school teacher has organised 17 Christmas tree festivals at St Mary Magdelene Church, helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for good causes.

Ms McCall has been praised for her energy, vitality and enthusiasm during her continued voluntary work in the parish.

"I was gobsmacked," she said.

"And a little bit embarrassed because I don't really think I do that much.

"Certainly the Christmas tree festival is such a good event because there is a brilliant team."

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Lorraine Britton - Trent Regional Cleft Network, for services to children with cleft lip and palate
• Sian Hampton - Archway Learning Trust, for services to education
• Wayne Norrie - The Greenwood Academies Trust, for services to education

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Andria Birch - Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service, for services to the community in Bassetlaw
• Dawn Edwards - Challenge Training and Consultancy Ltd, for services to the business community in Nottinghamshire
• Peter Edwards - Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership, for services to the economy and the community in Ashfield
• Prof Bridget Eickhoff - Rail Safety and Standards Board, for services to railway engineering
• Peter Jackson - Power Station, Uniper UK Ltd, for services to the Electricity Generation Industry
• Roy Lakey - Labour Party, for political service
• Simon Martin - Academy Transformation Trust Further Education, for services to further education
• Prof Susan Page - University of Leicester, for services to peatland and climate research
• Prof Jaspal Singh Taggar - Primary Care Education Unit, University of Nottingham, for services to general practice and general practice teaching
• Dr Stephen Wallace - Sherwood Obesrvatory, for services to the community in Ashfield

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire

• Elaine Bell - Sewing Belle. For services to the Stapleford High Street
• Ryan Clarke - For services to the community in Nottinghamshire
• Trevor Clower - Caring Roadshows, for services to unpaid carers in Nottinghamshire
• Roger Garrett - For services to the community in Nottinghamshire
• Patrick Kowalenko - Royal Voluntary Service, for charitable services
• Benjamin Rosser - Pythian Youth Club, for services to disadvantaged young people in Nottingham
• Derek Savidge - For services to the community in Wollaton
• Patricia Trotter - Family centre manager, for services to vulnerable children and their families

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