Local people are celebrated for service to the community in Queen’s New Year honours list

Mr Sutherns has been the Tower Bridge operations manager for over 20 years. Photo: Diliff

The Bridge Master of London’s most iconic bridge is among a number of local people to receive awards in the Queen’s New Year honours list.

Eric Sutherns 63, from Bexley has been the operations manager of Tower Bridge for more than 20 years and is being honoured with the MBE for his services to the City of London.He said: “It’s a massive honour for me to be responsible for and look after the most famous bridge in the world and [the MBE] just adds to that privilege.”

Mr Sutherns met the Queen earlier this year when he gave her a guided tour of the bridge and its control room in February.

The former Navy man is one of the many non-famous being celebrated on the Queen’s honour’s list this year as more local heroes are being commemorated for their services to the community.

East-End fashion entrepreneur Barry Laden has been appointed an MBE. Photo: Rachel Zedner

Other people from along the East London Line who are being honoured  are Brick Lane fashion designer Barry Laden and Sandra Horley the chief executive of domestic violence charity Refuge, which is based in St Katherine’s Way.

Thomas Fletcher, the former foreign policy advisor to the prime minister from Lewisham is being awarded the Order of St Michael and St George and Linda Jones the deputy chief exhibitor at the Tower of London is being honoured with a Royal Victorian Medal for her services to the Royal Family.

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