The Mayor of Dudley has praised the efforts of local people who have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Richard Port, a solicitor from Stourbridge, has been awarded an MBE for services to victims of domestic abuse. Richard created and delivered a training programme, in his own time, for staff to help them assist their service users in accessing legal aid.

Rose Cook Monk from Dudley, who has worked tirelessly to keep the memory of Dudley’s most famous son, Duncan Edwards, alive has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Dudley.

Awards have also been given to people working in Dudley borough, including an OBE for Andrew Lovett, chief executive at the Black Country Living Museum and Chair of the Association of Independent Museums. Andrew, from Birmingham, receives the national award for services to cultural heritage.

Kathryn Beale from Bilston has also received a British Empire Medal for services to the communities in Dudley and Sandwell. Kathryn set up Just Straight Talk in 2012, a community project-based organisation to provide practical help and motivation to young people (16-25 years) to turn their lives around and reach their life goals. Councillor Anne Millward, Mayor of Dudley, said:

"Receiving national recognition through the Queen’s Honours system is a tremendous accolade for anyone who receives it. We know there are so many fantastic people and organisations across Dudley borough doing outstanding work and we are always keen to encourage people to nominate others for these awards.

"I would like to commend borough recipients Richard and Rose on their achievements and thank them for their tireless efforts in making a difference.

"Congratulations must also go to Andrew, who does a tremendous job at the helm of the Black Country Living Museum, as he is made an OBE in honour of his work through the Association of Independent Museums.

"I’m also delighted to hear that Kathryn Beale from Bilston has also been recognised for her tireless work in Dudley and over the border in Sandwell.
The four awards closely linked to Dudley in this New Year’s list follows dozens of others from the borough who have received recognition over the last few years and we are working hard to continually increase the numbers even further.

"I have been delighted during my time as Mayor to be part of the recently established Past Mayor’s Group which is looking at ways to ensure Dudley people and organisations are receiving the recognition their work deserves.”"