4BR has been informed that Eddie Barry, founder of the Band of West Mercia Constabulary in 1988 has been awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours list

Charitable work

The MBE has been awarded for his charity work, which included the formation of the Band of West Mercia Constabulary, which has gone on to raise more than £400,000 for various causes.

He told the BBC: "I've been chairman of the band for 24 years. I feel very honoured for my wife and my family."

I've been chairman of the band for 24 years. I feel very honoured for my wife and my familyEddie Barry

Raise money

Eddie has organised concerts to raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance, Acorns Children's Hospice and St Richard's Hospice, as well as helping to raise £15,000 for orphans in Sri Lanka following the 2006 tsunami, after which he travelled to personally oversee the distribution of aid and services funded by the concerts.