HEADTEACHER of Birchley St Mary's Primary School, John Leake, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

John's royal recognition is made for his "services to the community of Romania."

Married, with a teenage daughter, John who lives in Eccleston, has been head at the school for 10 years. Since 1991 he has been actively involved with aid for Romania and was a member of the original series of convoys to orphanages there.

When aid tailed off for Romania, because of crises in Rwanda and Kosovo, John continued to raise aid with help from local people and support across Merseyside.

He has also used his knowledge of education to begin an exchange project helping to raise £11,000 to bring youngsters from Romania over to Merseyside. Four more youngsters from the eastern European country are due to arrive this summer.

Last year John and Councillor Keith Deakin joined forces to raise more than £5,000 to pay for an operation for Miruna Suru, a teenage Romanian girl who was suffering from a crippling illness.

After hearing of the award, a delighted John said: "When I received my letter informing me of the award I was taken totally by surprise. Obviously it's a great honour and something I could not have achieved without the massive support I have had in raising aid for Romania from local people and the generosity of Merseyside as a whole."

John will receive his honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace later this year.

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