NEW Year brought an OBE for civil servant Phil Teece.
The former Tyldesley councillor, who served on Wigan MBC's housing and education committees, was honoured for his work as programme director of the appeals service with the Department for Work and Pensions.
After learning of his award father-of-three Mr Teece, who now lives in Leigh, said: "I'm surprised. It came completely out of the blue. I'm pleased for the family, my mum would have been delighted."
He and his wife, Kath, have a 21 year-old son, Matthew, who is studying at Nottingham University. Younger son Adam, 17, is a back row forward with Leigh Centurions under 18s and their 16 year-old daughter Anna is Sleeping Beauty in the New Garrett Theatre's latest production.
A councillor in the mid-80s, Mr Teece has been chairman of Hindsford Juniors FC and is a governor of Fred Longworth High School. Working with the Inland Revenue, he was responsible for the introduction of the tax credits system.
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