'I was lost for words' - We speak to the Black Country, Staffordshire and Wyre Forest heroes praised in King's Birthday Honours List

From tireless community volunteers to leaders in education, health, and the arts, their stories paint a powerful picture of commitment and impact to their local communities.

We spoke to some of this year’s recipients to hear what the honour means to them and what drives their continued work.

'The temple is close to my heart'

A Walsall councillor is among the heroes in the West Midlands who have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List.

Pleck councillor Ram Kishan Mehmi has officially been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to faith and integration.

Alongside serving his council ward, Councillor Mehmi has acted as a community leader in Darlaston for more than 60 years.

Among the ways he has served the community in Darlaston is through his work on the committee of the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple in Pinfold Street. 

Councillor Mehmi, aged 77, said: "I have lived and worked in the Darlaston community for 61 years and I am honoured to receive this award which partly recognises that services and in particular to the temple which is close to my heart.

"I'm very much delighted and feel very humbled and proud of my Darlaston community and inter-faith group which I have been working with for a long time.

"I enjoy the job and I feel very much happy to do the job and try to solve people's problems and I have been doing that for many years.

"I have always done that and I will be doing that in the future as well. I love the job because if you can help people who are living with poverty, vulnerable people, within the borough of Walsall in the UK, I can say 'look I have done something to be proud of'.

"My wife and my daughter they are over the moon, they are really happy. My daughter said 'listen dad, it is a legacy you are leaving behind'."

'I was lost for words'

Aldridge-based Peter Bill, head of neurophysiology at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, has also been awarded an MBE.

He received the honour in recognition of his dedicated work in advancing the field of Neurophysiology and Healthcare Science.

Mr Bill has a career spanning more than two decades at the city’s specialist paediatric centre and nearly 30 years in the NHS.

Driven by a commitment to improving clinical quality and patient outcomes, he has played a pivotal role in the development of a range of advanced neurophysiological services. 

His work has made a direct and life-changing impact on countless children, young people and their families.

Among his achievements is helping to develop a non-invasive brain mapping suite to identify functional areas of children’s brains in order to assist neurosurgeons with complex epilepsy surgeries, or brain tumour removals. 

Mr Bill is an advocate for the role of healthcare science in shaping the future of the NHS. He had proudly held the position of regional chief scientific officer for the Midlands for the past four years, championing innovation, excellence and workforce development across the region.

He said: "I was genuinely lost for words when I found out. It was a complete surprise and incredibly humbling. I feel truly honoured and deeply thankful.

"I’ve always been passionate about championing healthcare science and giving scientists the recognition they deserve. This isn’t just a personal honour. It’s a tribute to the entire service and the incredible work we do together."

'We are immensely proud'

Dr Satish Rao, chief medical officer for Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, added: "We are immensely proud of Pete for being recognised with this prestigious honour."

Walsall's Joanne Judith Jones, headteacher at Story Wood School in Birmingham, has meanwhile received an MBE for services to education. 

Radio presenter Nikki Tapper, also from Walsall, has been awarded the MBE for services to broadcasting and to the community in the West Midlands after 25 years of working for the BBC in the region where she has presented shows dedicated to the region's African and Caribbean communities, drive-time and football programmes.

Those in service of the Black Country's youth

David Payne from Aldridge, Walsall, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in West Bromwich. 

For over 40 years, he has run the 14th West Bromwich Boys Brigade, positively impacting countless young men by supporting their career and life development. 

He played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining their camping centre in Wales, providing enriching experiences for youth.

He has also served as a magistrate for 35 years and been the chairman and trustee of the George Thomas Henry Salter Trust charity for 22 years, benefiting the people of Sandwell.

Kerrie Ann Green, a Sergeant Major Instructor for Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force from Rowley Regis, has also been honoured with a BEM for services to the Army Cadet Force and to Young People. 

'A remarkable career'

Carl Ledbury, from Oldbury, has been awarded the BEM for services to ambulance staff.

He qualified as a paramedic in 1986 and worked in various roles at West Midlands Ambulance Service for more than 40 years.

Mr Ledbury was an avid supporter of the Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund which resulted in him becoming a Trustee in 2015 when The Ambulance Staff Charity was formed.

Through his role at The Ambulance Staff Charity, he has supported staff through mental health, physical rehab, and financial wellbeing services.

Mr Ledbury is also a qualified counsellor and volunteer mental health advocate, delivering lectures on stress and wellbeing to Student Paramedics at Worcester University.

He also represents the ambulance service nationally at events including Remembrance services.  

West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive officer, Anthony Marsh, said: “This award is truly deserved for a remarkable career serving the community of the West Midlands and his fellow ambulance colleagues. 

“Carl retired in 2016 after a 40-year career in the ambulance service. However, his dedication didn’t end there, as he still fulfils the role of standard bearer in West Midland Ambulance Service’s ceremonial unit. 

"Providing support not only at ceremonial events but also assisting in providing ambulance staff dignified funerals is something we know Carl is very passionate about.

 "Alongside this, his contributions to The Ambulance Staff Charity have been remarkable and I couldn’t be prouder of his dedication to the profession and his colleagues.”

Tracy Nicholls OBE, chair of The Ambulance Staff Charity and chief executive of the college of paramedics, added: "We are absolutely thrilled that Carl Ledbury has been awarded the BME in recognition of his incredible service to the ambulance community and to The Ambulance Staff Charity. 

"For decades, Carl has given his time and energy to support ambulance staff and their families through some of their most difficult times. 

"We are incredibly proud to see him recognised for his tireless voluntary work. It is an honour that is hugely deserved."

West Midlands Police Honours

Several people in the West Midlands have been awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM). 

They include Samantha Ellen Ridding, Detective Chief Superintendent at West Midlands Police, Sgt Timothy Rogers and Detective Superintendent Nigel Walsh, also of West Midlands Police.

Staffordshire Honours - from Hockey to heritage

A number of people from Staffordshire have also been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list.

They include Sean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, a senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy who has been awarded the MVO for services to the Crown.

Cannock-based Michael Charles Mellor BEM, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, has been awarded an OBE for services to Heritage and to recognition of the mining community.

Prof Sharon Arkell, from Burntwood, is dean of the faculty of education, health and wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton and has been awarded an MBE for services to Higher Education.

John Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, has been awarded an MBE for services to the NHS Diagnostic Pathology Service and Biomedical Science Education.

Saffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women’s Ice Hockey team, has been awarded an MBE for services to sport.

Former fire officer Andrew David Buttery, from High Offley near Eccleshall, is a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire.

The role involves keeping a network of over 600 retired fire service personnel, updated on news and activities through regular emails and newsletters. He also runs the wellbeing group Living Well. 

Volunteer Retired Network Coordinator, Andy said : “It was a shock but also an honour to receive this recognition for doing a role that I get a great deal of satisfaction from. I thoroughly enjoyed my career in the fire service and by carrying out this function I am able to maintain contact with both the service and many former colleagues.”

Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber said: “Andy’s passion and commitment, all on a voluntary basis, is remarkable. He is the epitome of fire service values and he is highly respected by both current and former staff. Our veterans have given so much during their service that it’s important for us to look after them into their retirement.

“For many the fire service is a career for life and people’s bond with the service doesn’t just end at the point they hang up their boots, which is why we have such a thriving retired network. Andy’s role in managing that network ensures that bond remains strong and that sense of camaraderie remains, which is important for the wellbeing of our retired personnel.”

Valerie Neale, from Stonnall near Walsall, has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Stonnall.

Tracey O’Flaherty, of Stafford, has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire.

Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly, of Tamworth, has been awarded an MBE for services to Association Football. 

Emma Mary Bridgewater CBE, who is founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery which has a factory in Stoke-on-Trent, has been awarded the Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to ceramics.

'People known in their neighbourhoods but fail to get the wider credit they deserve' 

Melanie Clarke, health, safety and wellbeing director for National Highways, from Stourport, has been awarded an OBE for services to the road network.

Hannah Marie Sidaway, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, from Kidderminster, has been awarded an OBE for services to law and order.

Professional cricketer Steven Michael Davies, of Kidderminster, has been awarded an MBE for services to sport.

Karen Blanchfield, from Stourport, who is founder of Little Litter Warriors, has been awarded a BEM for services to environmental education. The project  provides schools with litter picking workshops, assemblies and environment classroom activities. She said: “I’m truly honoured and humbled to be receiving this award, and to receive this recognition for something I care so much about is amazing. 

"I’m really passionate about helping our Worcestershire communities in particular, the younger generation to learn about litter and about keeping the world we live in clean and tidy, both now and in the future. Litter picking is a simple thing that anyone and everyone can do to help protect our environment, educating this from a young age is really important and can have such a long-lasting impact which will see the next generation of adults care for the environment."

  Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE said: “Right across the West Midlands there are amazing people who work hard to deliver a better, brighter and kinder place. 

"These people are often known within their neighbourhoods but fail to gain the wider credit they deserve.

“This year’s recipients showcase a range of outstanding achievements and provide an insight into the region and the people that make it so great. 

"We are all grateful for what they do every day, and I am absolutely delighted to see so many gain the recognition they deserve in the birthday honours.“

The individual honours are announced twice a year to mark The King’s official birthday in June and the New Year Honours announced at the end of December.

Nomination details can be found on the West Midlands Lieutenancy website at wmlieutenancy.org.