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Ted Wilson |
Street sweeper Ted going to palace
Man who kept streets clean at night for 33 years is among New Year Honours List heroes
NIGHTshift street-sweeper Edward Wilson cleaned the booze-soaked West End streets for 33 years.
It must have been a thankless task – but this week his tireless efforts were officially rewarded with an MBE in the New Year Honours List.
“Ted”, who retired in the summer and is enjoying some time abroad, is now Mr Wilson MBE.
With Ted away on holiday, council lead member for environment Dr Leith Penny, who knows him, said: “He always went the extra mile and was incredibly popular with all the local businesses as a result. Ted represents the legions of people like him in Westminster and beyond who do the unglamorous work which makes such a big impact on all our lives.”
Like Ted, Diane Smith has spent most of her working life at the tough end of her trade.
The manager of the Victoria Hostel, London’s biggest haven for the homeless with 173 beds, was made an MBE.
The 31-year-old said she only found out when her uncle saw her name in the paper.
Currently away from the hostel on maternity leave, she said she was delighted with her gong and that it was a double celebration with the birth of her baby girl last week.
Diane said: “I love my role as senior homelessness manager and am totally committed to reducing and preventing homelessness, but the whole thing has come as a complete surprise. I received a letter about one-and-a-half months ago saying I was being nominated for an MBE but thought that I had just been put forward for it. I didn’t realise that I’d actually been awarded it until my Uncle Phil called me saying he’d seen my name in the newspaper.
“I was completely flabbergasted when I found out – it was a complete surprise. I feel totally honoured although I think that everything I’ve achieved has been a team effort between the hostel staff and Look Ahead. I’m very proud and I can’t wait to go to Buckingham Palace. I haven’t received any word yet of when I’ll be going, but I’m told that it will probably be in about five months’ time.”
Diane Warwick, nursery nurse at Millbank Primary School, Victoria, received an MBE for services to younger years education. It is the second time the school has been recognised in the honours list.
John Barradell, 47, the deputy chief executive of Westminster City Council, was awarded an OBE for his work with the Metropolitan Police’s Special Constabulary.
Mr Barradell said: “I’m deeply honoured to have been awarded in this way, but also very surprised. There are a lot of people who work incredibly hard for their local communities, and I’m proud to be honoured among them.”
The accolade was in recognition of his 27 years of service with the Met, and in his final role as Chief Officer of the Special Constabulary where he oversaw a huge boost in the recruitment of ethnic minority specials.
James Bond film producers Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G Wilson have each been awarded an OBE.
The Piccadilly duo have co-produced the 007 series together since 1995’s Golden Eye and are now working on the 22nd instalment in the franchise, due out in November.
Mr Wilson had the distinction of making many cameo appearances, speaking and non-speaking, in the Bond films. His first appearance, long before becoming a producer, was in Goldfinger in which he appeared as a soldier. He has been in every official Bond film produced since 1977.
Dr Michele Elliott, the founder and director of Kidscape, received an OBE.
The charity, the first set up to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse, is based in Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria.
As a teacher and child psychologist, Dr Elliott has worked in all sectors of education and is the author of more than 20 books and numerous articles on bullying, parenting and child abuse.
She describes herself as an “elderly, demented mother of two sons”.
Also awarded honours this year were Joanne Wilcox, who runs a salon in Soho, for services to beauty, and Lord’s cricket coach Clive Radley, head coach at the Marylebone Cricket Club for 17 years, for services to sport.
For services to drama, Covent Garden actor Roy Dotrice receives an MBE and Soho actress Julie Walters added a CBE to the OBE she received in 1999. |
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