A TRIO of community-centred Dudley borough individuals have been honoured with British Empire Medals (BEM) at a special ceremony this week.

Jean Fletcher, Lynne Jankowska and Shahzada Saleem were all given medals for their very ‘hands-on’ service to the community by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands, Colonel George Marsh TD at the Birmingham Council House ceremony on Monday (September 12).

Norton nurse Jean, aged 83, was awarded the honour for her services to nursing, to Mary Stevens Hospice and to the National Trust.

She has been a volunteer at the hospice’s In-Patient Unit for past seven years since retiring fully from nursing when she was 76.

When Jean was first announced as a recipient of the award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, she admitted: “I thought it was a joke at first.

“I don't consider nursing or my volunteering duties as work because it is so enjoyable and I shall continue doing it for as long as I can.”

Lynne, who quit teaching as she battled to cope with bipolar disorder, has been honoured for helping to improve mental health services for others who had suffered like her.

She had been a teacher, working at Moat Farm Primary School in Oldbury, until her bipolar condition worsened at the age of 45.

Now in her sixties, Lynne, of Wordsley, was an “expert by experience” for Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership from 2010 until last year, when she was part of a team that visited Bushey Fields psychiatric hospital in Dudley to give feedback to staff and management aimed at improving services for patients.

She said she was “delighted but surprised” to receive the accolade.

Dudley taxi firm boss Shahzada was also recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours, but for his heavyweight achievements come in the sport of stone lifting.

Known as King Shazad, the Kingswinford man has been hailed the greatest athlete ever seen in the sport, which sees competitors lifting a massive stone block.

Following his retirement – King Shazad set up the Shazad Academy in Dudley to pass on his skills to the next generation and help keep youngsters off the streets.

The grandfather, who runs Sedgley based Beacon Taxis and Express Taxis in Halesowen, said of the award: “This really is a honour, never in my dreams did I think I would ever be recognised in such way.”

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif, was a special guest at the awards ceremony which was held in one single location for the first time ever, mirroring the investiture ceremonies that are held at Buckingham Palace.

Cllr Hanif said: “I must say congratulations to Shahzada, Jean and Lynne for being awarded their British Empire Medals. It was a great honour for me as Mayor of Dudley to be present at their special day.

“It is a real lifetime achievement and celebrates the work that they have done throughout their lives and shows that they really deserve these awards.

“It is also an honour for the borough that we have people like them who do so much for our communities and they set such great examples for others to follow.”