British Empire Medal awarded to Chester-le-Street Postman

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British Empire Medal awarded to Chester-le-Street charity champion

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A POSTMAN who has devoted the last 16 years of his life to running a cycling charity has been presented with the British Empire Medal.

Brian Milner, from Chester-le-Street, was awarded the honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced in June.

He has now been presented with the medal by Sir Paul Nicholson, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, in a ceremony at Durham County Cricket Club’s stadium.

The 36-year-old founded the Gateway Wheelers disabled cycling group in 1996 alongside fellow postman David Patterson, of Witton Gilbert, who died in 2004.

He said: "It was a great honour to meet Sir Paul and to receive the medal in my home town with good friends and family around.

"The British Empire Medal was revived this year to reward community and voluntary work and so it is a double honour to be one of the first to get the medal for my work with Gateway Wheelers."

He added: "When David passed away it was a big loss, but we all rallied together, took on the challenge and have continued the charity’s success.

"When I first received my letter it took a few days for what I had been awarded to sink in.

"At the end of the day I’m just one spoke in a big wheel at Gateway Wheelers and without the support of my family and volunteers none of this would be possible."

Mr Milner is expected to be invited down to a Buckingham Palace garden party to mark the honour next year.