A LECTURER has received a MBE, as part of the Queen's birthday honours.

Martyn Featherstone has been awarded the MBE for services to further education.

Mr Featherstone, 65, who lives in Redcar, works at The Northern School of Art in Middlesbrough.

He is an ex-student of The Northern School of Art who, after leaving Teesside for further study, and a six-year spell as a designer in London, returned to the institution 37 years ago to teach.

He has been a lecturer and course leader, and is now the longest-serving member of academic staff at the institution.

Mr Featherstone said: "I still cannot believe it! Who would have thought a lad from ‘Dormo’ (Dormanstown, Redcar) who spent many a week hiding under the dining room table with his mum from the rent man would have dreamt of being honoured by the Queen!

"I received an email from the cabinet office on Thursday 13 May but because of a technical problem with the college servers I was not able to access my emails until Friday lunchtime. In my emails list there was one that stood out – in bold letters ‘Cabinet Office’.

"I opened it and my first thoughts were SCAM! Then I started to read it!

"I remember shouting out and surprising my technician who was having his lunch behind me! He had his earphones on so did not catch what I said!

"Good job really! I printed the letter and went out to my car to phone my wife.

"She said it was a scam and put the phone down. I rang her back and read the letter to her.

"I sat in my car crying with disbelief! We were both in shock and it still has not sunk in even now!"

Mr Featherstone has taught approximately 1,000 students over this time, and his efforts have been key in enabling many young people from the Tees Valley to realise their ambition of success in the creative industries.

He regularly voluntarily visits ex-students to mentor and support their careers. Student successes include an Oscar-winning special effects designer [Stephen Spenceley], an industrial designer now working on the team of renowned designer Marc Newsom [Callum Smith], an internationally-renowned architect who has worked at leading international design practices in the UK, China and the Middle East [James Sylvester] and an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, British Female Inventor of the Year (2006) and Global Women Invention & Innovation Network (GWIIN) Chairperson’s medal-winner [Morag Hutcheon].

Mr Featherstone said: "On Friday last week a lovely lady from the cabinet office rang to discuss the award details. After the phone call the penny dropped that it was real, and it was happening!

"I do not have any words to describe how I feel. For me, the recommendation is a huge thank you for over 37-years of doing a job that I love and will miss.

"The MBE is the perfect retirement present as I will spend my last day at the school on Friday 9 July. It seemed the right time to leave as the college at Green Lane will close and staff will transfer to the new building in central Middlesbrough for the September start.

"I had the opportunity to visit the new building and it is going to be a very special place to both work and learn. The new school will become a design hub for further education in the North East."