It’s an honour as two win accolade

A DOCTOR and businessman from Great and Little Eversden have been appointed MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for their services to the UK and abroad.

Dr Euan Dunn of Wimpole Road, Great Eversden was among the honours for his overwhelming contribution to marine conservation.

The 61-year-old, who is head of marine policy at the Sandy based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) told The Crow: "This is a great honour and I'm delighted to be recognised in such a way. It really is quite a surprise."

Dr Dunn has been praised for his work particularly for his regulation of industrial fishing in the North Sea, the "greening" of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy and his efforts to prevent seabirds from being driven to extinction.

And since he started his involvement in 1994, Dr Dunn said the organisation had come a long way.

"The RSPB has put a very visible amount of effort into protecting albatrosses and other seabirds and we are committed to their safety," said Dr Dunn.

Dr Dunn also plays a major role in the Save the Albatross campaign, which promotes seabird-friendly fishing practices - a campaign that is also supported by Prince Charles.

He said: "The campaign is going from strength to strength and we've been working hard all over the world - particularly with fishermen in Latin America. We also work closely with representatives from the UN.

"Prince Charles is also a very passionate supporter and champions our cause greatly. He's given us a lot of his time and we have met on a number of occasions."

Dr Dunn will have the pleasure of meeting more royalty when he visits Buckingham Palace to receive his accolade later in the year.

He said: "I'm very excited about collecting the MBE and looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the Queen. It's definitely going to be a very memorable day that also puts marine issues on the map."

Dr Dunn's close affinity with the sea stems from is seafaring heritage - his grandfather was a trawler skipper and his father Harry was a fishing correspondent for The Scotsman.

"I'm looking forward to sharing this honour with my family, because they are all really proud of me," said Dr Dunn.

"The RSPB is a great platform for achieving great work and I have the pleasure of working with some really fantastic people. Although this is a personal award, credit should also be given to all those I work with."

Equally delighted was Thomas Harland of Harlton Road, Little Eversden, who was also recognised in the honours for his services to the British Standard's Institution (BSI).

Mr Harland was also quick to share the plaudits and told The Crow: "I'm extremely honoured to be awarded an MBE and I am highly delighted for myself as well as all my colleagues at BSI."

Mr Harland believes that his recognition comes as a result of many years hard work, which has included pioneering projects and long trips abroad.

The 63-year-old said: "I'm involved with business on a world-wide scale, working with businesses right across the globe. I'm currently helping develop a number of companies in Asia as well as maintaining the standards in the UK."

BSI is the National Standards Body of the UK and develops standards and solutions to meet the needs of businesses and is also a leading business service provider to organisations world-wide.

In his role as director of strategic development, Mr Harland helps develop and provide services in a number of areas including quality management, health and safety and information security systems.

Mr Harland who has been at BSI since 1988 said that he loved every minute of his job and is still as enthusiastic and committed as to when he started.

He also said that he was looking forward to collecting his MBE at Buckingham Palace.

He explained: "I will be taking my wife and our children - they are as proud as punch. Never in all my life would I have perceived that something like this would happen.