A MAN who has devoted much of his spare time to helping others says he still cannot believe he has been awarded an MBE.

Geoff Gough, his wife Jean, and their sons Richard and Mark, enjoyed a VIP trip to London to keep an important appointment at Buckingham Palace where the Queen made the presentation.

Geoff was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours last summer for his services to the communities of Hagley, where he lives in Worcester Road, and Bromsgrove.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet. I keep reading the inscription on the certificate every time I pass it," said Geoff.

Following the tragic death of their young son Stuart in 1988, Geoff threw himself into helping others by becoming involved in among other good causes Victim Support, Heart Start, St John Ambulance and the Scout movement.

After being made redundant from Rover at Longbridge in 1987 he became a maintenance engineer at Whitford Hall School before it moved to Droitwich.

Jean, a native of Perryfields Road in Bromsgrove, is also well known in the district for the years she spent as a sister at the former general hospital in Bromsgrove.

After the formalities at the palace, where they rubbed shoulders with many famous personalities including Terry Wogan, their day was made complete when they were invited to lunch at the House of Commons as guests of Bromsgrove's MP, Julie Kirkbride. On January 21 Geoff and his family will be guests of honour at a civic reception organised by Hagley Parish Council at Hagley Country Club.