DURHAM'S town crier has something to shout about after he was made an MBE for services to the community.

Colin Beswick, who has carried out more than four decades of public service in the city, became Durham's official town crier last year after he held the role unofficially for six years.

The 76-year-old former headteacher of Witton Gilbert Primary School was first elected to Durham City Council in July 1962 -the start of 40 years' continuous service on the authority.

During that time, the Liberal Democrat member for Nevilles Cross ward served as mayor and chairman of the planning committee before he retired in 2002.

He also found time to serve on the Durham University Council, the Durham Town and Gown Society, Nevilles Cross Over-60s Club and the Shakespeare Temperance Trust, which has donated more than £500,000 to local organisations.

...while crier Alan is given one too

NEARLY 21 years ago, hotel owner Alan Booth entered a competition he had no intention of winning.

The great-grandfather did not want to be Scarborough's town crier, but was cajoled into entering the crier competition by fellow members of the town's hotel association, who needed to swell entrant numbers.

Mr Booth, 73, impressed, winning the competition and reluctantly took up the bell and breeches.

More than two decades later, he has been made an MBE for services to tourism.

He said: "Winning was a surprise. You go through life doing what you are doing and you do not expect a reward like this.

"I have enjoyed being Scarborough town crier for twenty-and-a-half years. I enjoyed it all, but the first six months."

Through his honorary job, he has travelled the world, visiting Australia, Canada, Taiwan and countries across Europe.

He said: "There is nothing nicer than meeting people. I am going to carry on as long as I enjoy it.

"I am honoured and privileged to receive this honour. I have always done what I have enjoyed and I never expected this reward."

Mr Booth lives in Scarborough with his wife, Wendy, 72.

They ran the Ryedale Hotel guest house until they retired, and still live there now.

Comedian Bobby left 'gobsmacked'

VETERAN comedian and fundraising champion Bobby Knoxall has been made an MBE for his services to entertainment and charity.

The 71-year-old, who was given the award under his real name of Robert McKenna, has raised more than £1m for charity during nearly 55 years in showbusiness.

He said: "I am overwhelmed, delighted, and at the same time humbled. This is not just for me, but for my friends and family who have supported me through thick and thin over the years.

"To think that a raggy kid from Sunderland's East End could receive such a prestigious award is unbelievable. I am absolutely gobsmacked."

Knoxall, who wrote Sunderland's FA Cup final song in 1973, went into semi-retirement two years ago following a lifesaving stomach operation.

However, he emerged to star in another stage show to raise £20,000 for the Grace House Appeal to build a children's hospice in his native Sunderland.

Knoxall, his wife, Diane, and sons Robert, 31, John, 30, Ryan, 23 and Brent, 18, were yesterday celebrating the news at home.

It's a privilege, but I thought it was a hoax

Grandmother-of-four Mildred Howell officially retired from teaching in the mid-1990s.

She was tempted back on a short-term basis by a former colleague who asked her to help him out.

Eight years later, she is still helping out at Hurworth School of Maths and Computing, near Darlington.

When she received a letter telling her she had been made an MBE, she was staggered.

She said: "I thought it was a hoax. I still do not know who nominated me, but it is such a privilege.

"I have always loved teaching, but I think I enjoy it now at Hurworth more than I ever have before. I feel very valued."

Mrs Howell lives in Sedgefield, County Durham, with her husband Walter, 68. They have two sons, Adam and Andrew, and four grandchildren, Daniel, 13, Max, three, Mae, one, and Lucy, six weeks.

The 62-year-old maths teacher is not a stranger to awards. Last year, she was named North-East secondary school teacher of the year.

The couple both worked at Wellfield School, Durham, but Mrs Howell took early retirement.

She was coaxed back into the classroom by former Wellfield colleague Eammon Farrar, who was then headteacher at Hurworth.

She said: "Working with young people is brilliant. It is different every day, you see all aspects of life, fun, excitement, the whole gambit.

"Many of my colleagues do not know about the MBE, but I hope they feel they can share in it because we all learn from each other and there is a great team at Hurworth.

"I will retire when I stop enjoying it or when other pressures come on board.

"Perhaps this award is telling me something."