Teacher nominated by students joins Status Quo rocker on Croydon's New Year's Honours list (From Croydon Guardian)

Teacher nominated by students joins Status Quo rocker on Croydon's New Year's Honours list

12:04pm Thursday 31st December 2009

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A teacher who “always gets the best” out of his pupils has been awarded an MBE after being nominated by his students.

Economics teacher Jonh Rowland made such a difference to his pupils lives that some of his pupils took it upon themselves to have him recognised for it.

Mr Rowlands was honoured by the Queen in her New Year’s Honours List for services to education, something Harshil Trivedi, one of his pupils, said is rightly deserved.

The 19-year-old management and business student from Thornton Heath said: “He is quite a controversial teacher, he used many different teaching techniques to try and capture the attention of his pupils.

“He is a teacher that always sees the best in his students and tries to nuture that to always get the best out of them.”

Mr Trivedi and his fellow pupils, Nabeel Ghufoor and Wayne Clark, went to their headmaster and told them what they wanted to do for Mr Rowlands.

He said: “We spoke to our headmaster and he thought it was a great idea. Because Mr Rowlands is retiring next year we really wanted to do something nice for him so we got the forms and sent off the nomination.

“It is so nice to see him being recognised for all the hard work he does.”

New Addington Councillor, Brenda Kirby, was also awarded an MBE for services to the community in Croydon.

Grandmother, Mrs Kirby, said: “I couldnt sleep when I found out I was so excited. When I first got the letter through saying I had been nominated I almost didn’t beleive it.

“I sent off the form and thought to myself I would never be honoured but it is fantastic to find out I have been.

“It’s a bit of a paradox, on the one hand I am very proud to have been honoured but on the other hand I am very humbled.

“Someone with a lot of problems already must have nominated so for them to take the time and spare the thought to do this is very humbling.

The 64-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three has been working with the community in New Addington since 1977.

Mrs Kirby said: “I have worked alongside some amazingly motivated and fantastic people who have all helped to try and make New Addington better for the residents.

Ageing Status Quo rocker, Francis Rossi, who lives in Purley, was also honoured in the list. Mr Rossi was awarded an OBE for services to music and to charity.

A spokesman for Mr Rossi said: “Francis is very surprised after being in show business so long to be getting recognition now. He is absolutely delighted."

Other Croydon award winners are: Mrs Stella Okeahialam MBE, programme director, Croydon Enterprise for service to business. Mr Andrew John Leigh OBE for public service.

Miss Susan Caulfield MBE, assistant director, Immigration Fingerprint Bureau, UK Border Agency, Home Office.

Mrs June Colette Mason MBE, grade 7, Cohesion and Migration Directorate, Department for Communities and Local Government

Do you know anyone from Croydon honoured in this year's list? Contact the newsdesk on 020 8330 9558.

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