Retired West Mercia fundraising policeman appointed MBE

Mr Barry founded the Band of West Mercia Constabulary in 1998 after retiring from the police

A retired West Mercia policeman is among the six people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to be recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Eddie Barry from Kidderminster has been appointed MBE for his charity work.

Mr Barry retired after 30 years service in 1994 and founded the Band of West Mercia Constabulary in 1988 which has raised more than £400,000.

He said: "I've been chairman of the band for 24 years, I feel very honoured for my wife and my family."

Mr Barry has organised concerts to raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance, Acorns Children's Hospice and St Richard's Hospice.

He said the band also raised £15,000 for orphans in Sri Lanka following the 2006 tsunami after which he travelled to personally oversee the distribution of aid and services funded by the concerts.

He said: "We've become quite well known and over the years have done concerts in [Worcester] Cathedral, churches, village halls and fetes."

Mr Barry was also a founding member of the Police Community Fund, West Mercia Police's own charity that supports vulnerable victims of crime. He is chairman of the West Mercia branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (Narpo).

Andrew Boyle from Ledbury, who was chairman of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) for three years until May, becomes an OBE for services to the transport industry.

He said: "It was totally unexpected, I'm hugely honoured and I was ably aided by many staff of the RHA and many people from all around the industry - that makes it all the more of an honour."

Other recipients include Michael Brinton, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, who has been given a CVO (Commander Victorian Order) in recognition of services to the royal family, while Simon Chesterman, Assistant Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, receives a Queen's Medal.

Jonathan Browning from Ledbury, a stabilisation adviser in Helmand province, has been appointed OBE for public service.

Margaret Goodacre from Malvern has been made an MBE for services to caring for elderly people.