THE new year got off to a flying start for Bury-born Wing Commander Ian Derbyshire.

The 53-year-old, who serves with the operations engineering squadron at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, attained his current rank in November.

He has now been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Wing Cdr Derbyshire, originally of Newhall Road, Jericho, attended Chesham Primary School, East Ward Secondary Modern and Bury Technical College.

He joined the RAF in 1971 after obtaining a BA degree in Physics from Lancaster University and has toured in America, Germany, Denmark and Cyprus.

As part of his work, Wing Cdr Derbyshire, whose base is used by the Tornado F3 fleet, has provided support for the enforcement of a "no fly zone" over Iraq.

He has also been involved in crash investigation and community work, and will attend a presentation ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the next couple of months.

Wing Cdr Derbyshire said: "I think that I'm looking forward to going along to the palace, but it has been a bit of a shock.

"I have enjoyed my time in the RAF very much and would not have been in the job for more than 30 years if I had not."

Wing Cdr Derbyshire's mother Sybil lives at Cameron House Nursing Home, Bury. His late father William was a footballer with Bury FC in the 1940s.