MBE recipients reveal their joy

Peter Webb, founder and managing director Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd, has been made an MBE For services to business and the community in Worthing.

Mr Webb, 60, said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed to have been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year. It was completely unexpected and it’s certainly going to take a long time to get used to having MBE at the end of my name.

“It was a big surprise when I first learnt about the award and I am delighted, and I know my family are also very proud. I have known for a few weeks now and it has been difficult keeping it quiet.

“I could never have achieved the worldwide recognition and success that we have today without the support and commitment from everyone working alongside me present and past.”

Mr Webb founded his business in 1983, alongside his wife Miriam. Beginning with just one employee, today ETI employs 165 people across two factories in East Worthing. The company manufactures electronic digital thermometers and temperature probes, primarily for the food service industry, and are exported all over the world.

Lorraine Brockhurst, a work experience co-ordinator for HM Revenue and Customs, has been made an MBE for services to young people in the workplace;

Mrs Brockhurst, 54, of Woodside Road, Worthing, has followed in the footsteps of her father David Fraser who was made an MBE for services to social work in 2013.

She said: “I was absolutely delighted. The work I do, I love doing it – liaising with the schools and getting kids into HMRC for work experience. To be rewarded for it is just amazing. I feel quite humble about it really. I think I’m dreaming still.”

She said she was ‘blown away’ by her father’s investiture at Buckingham Palace.

The honour follows a dramatic change in fortunes for Mrs Brockhurst. Last year her daughter Shelley, son-in-law Adam and their three children had a lucky escape from a raging house fire. Brave dad Adam pulled the children out of the house and Shelley was forced to escape out of an upstairs window. The family home in Boxgrove, Goring, was badly damaged but the community rallied to help them rebuild their lives. The couple married on Saturday and more details can be found on page eight.

Les Alden, 71, of Kings Walk, in Shoreham Beach, has been made an MBE for services to the community in Southwark, London.

Mr Alden only moved to the town a month ago but has already set his sights on helping out in the community.

He said: “It is a great honour to be awarded this MBE by the Queen. I could not have done all that for my church and the people of Southwark without the support of my wife and my friends and I must sincerely thank them.

“Now that I have moved to Shoreham I do not intend to retire but hopefully to get involved in local life.”

British Empire Medals (BEM) were awarded to Josephine Hutchinson, for services to the arts in Worthing; Susan Ward, chairman of the West Durrington Phoenix Youth Group, for services to children and the community in West Durrington; and Catherine Carter, head of humanitarian information and communication at Save the Children, for humanitarian services, particularly for Syria.