Queen's New Year Honours: Long-serving Essex lifeboatman honoured
A member of a lifeboat crew in Essex for more than 54 years has been appointed MBE in the Queen's New Year honours list.
Colin Sedgwick, 70, of Southend-on-Sea, who has been involved in more than 2,500 rescues, has been recognised for services to maritime safety.
Mr Sedgwick said: "I am pleased to receive this. It was a big surprise."
Others in the honours list include Reginald Bailey, of Nazeing, Mothers' Union chief executive, appointed CBE.
He was recognised for services to children and families.
Mr Sedgwick told the BBC he joined the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in 1958 becoming helmsman of the inshore lifeboat at Southend in 1965.
"I retired at the age of 70 in November. Before then I was on call 24 hours a day," he said.
Mr Sedgwick he has "really enjoyed" his time with the RNLI and hopes more people will get involved.
"We need lots of volunteers and the right sort of volunteers, and in a lot of cases we need younger people," he said.
Another recipient of an honour is Prof Mala Rao, of Colchester, who has been professor of International Health, University of East London, since April 2011.
She has been appointed OBE for services to public health in the UK and overseas.
She was the founding director of the first Indian Institute of Public Health established by the Public Health Foundation of India.
Kaushik Patel, a community pharmacist in Essex who lives in Clacton on Sea, was appointed MBE for services to pharmacy.
Brian Mitchell, general manager of Rayleigh Boys Football Club, has been appointed MBE for services to youth football.
Other people in Essex recognised include Prof Josephine Ades (professor of art history at the University of Essex), former principal at the City of Sunderland College Angela O'Donoghue, of Billericay, and Caroline Tapster (former chief executive of Hertfordshire County Council), who lives in Stansted, who were all appointed CBE.