A foster carer who has looked after more than 45 children and a former policeman now helping prisoners to turn their lives around are among Nottinghamshire people named on the New Year Honours list.
Catherine Gullen, 67, receives an MBE for services to children after working as a registered foster carer in Nottinghamshire since 1988.
Catherine, from Mansfield Woodhouse, has fostered more than 45 children since, mainly between the ages of babies to five years old.
Along with husband Stuart, she has cared for children with high needs while building strong relationships with their birth parents through regular communication and support.
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” she said.
“It frightened me a bit at first, I must admit, that someone from my background is being honoured.
“It’s about being there (for the child).
“Every time a new one comes to us we think have we got what it takes to do the best for them?
“They can come in scared, but they just need some love and some help, and not just them – their parents as well. Often it’s happened that that is how it’s worked out and they’ve been able to go home to their family.”
The highest honours won by Nottinghamshire people this year are two CBEs – one for Dale Bywater, Executive Regional Managing Director for Midlands and East, NHS Improvement, and for Professor Martyn Davies, Professor of Biomedical Surface Chemistry, University of Nottingham.
Eight people have won British Empire medals, or BEMs.
Among them is Watnall man Derek Burnett, 68, who gets his medal for services to the community in Nottinghamshire.
He has held a number of voluntary positions for 11 years, including being a prison in-reach worker for the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA), helping ex-servicemen turn away from crime and rebuild their lives.
“I had the letter from the cabinet office in November and I just burst into tears. It’s an excellent feeling,” he said.
Derek has also been a community first responder for East Midlands Ambulance Service since 2011 and also holds the county treasurer position for SSAFA as well as helping to raise the organisation’s profile.
He uses his experience as a retired police officer with Nottinghamshire Police to help guide prisoners with a background in the armed forces in Notts.
“It’s about helping the people I see to get back into society again,” he added.
“Everybody deserves a second chance in life and they (prisonsers) are all human beings at the end of the day.
“I don’t have tunnel vision. I’ve seen really bad people in prison. And I’ve seen some that don’t deserve to be there.”
The annual list, issued by the Queen, honours people for acts of bravery, outstanding public service and other achievements.
