Highways official 'honoured' to be appointed MBE

Frank Bird said he was "blown away" by the honour

A National Highways employee has said he is "hugely, hugely honoured" to be appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

Frank Bird, who provides expertise in control rooms, has played a major role in operations including the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the city, the 2012 Olympics and the Covid-19 response.

The 65-year-old from Birmingham joined National Highways 20 years ago and retires in September.

He said: "There have been rewards day after day that get me up in the morning and then I go to bed knowing that I made a difference to people's lives."

Mr Bird said he was "absolutely blown away" to find out about the honour, adding: "My wife opened the letter whilst I was walking round watching my son playing cricket, walking around the boundary.

"It stopped me in [my] tracks."

One of his favourite memories was from 2004, when a 10-year-old boy needing a life-saving transfusion was stranded on the M5 when his father's car broke down.

Mr Bird was in the control room and helped get the child and his mother to hospital in a National Highways 4x4 patrol vehicle, ensuring he made the appointment with five minutes to spare.

"He came out the other side really healthy," Mr Bird added.

The RAF Red Arrows performed a flypast during the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

He also remembered the RAF Red Arrows changing their activities before the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The original plan was for aircraft to put smoke on as they went over Walsall, Mr Bird explained.

But he added: "We had some concerns about the safety of nine red aircraft flying so low over the M6.

"So we kindly asked the Red Arrows if they would not put the smoke on until they were inside the M6 and approaching Perry Barr."

Mr Bird also organises volunteers to support festivals, Crufts and the Cosford air show.

He said his father, who died in February, "would have been blown away that I got this award", adding: "So this one's for dad."