A STALWART of the ambulance service and Coastguard described being made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) as “extraordinary”.

Chris Thomas, who is deputy director of HM Coastguard, received the accolade in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Mr Thomas, who grew up in Bournemouth and still lives in the town, has worked within the emergency services for nearly 40 years.

“I just feel hugely honoured that people I work with and people I know put me forward for this award,” he told the Daily Echo.

“It is tremendous. I am a local lad, I went to Porchester School in Bournemouth, so for something like this to happen to me is just extraordinary. I can’t believe it.

“I have had a great career, which I am still enjoying, working for two great emergency services with people in both those organisations that really deliver so much to the local community and local people.

“I feel I am really accepting it on behalf of so many people I have worked alongside and worked with.”

His career started in the early 1980s with the ambulance service in Bournemouth, driving ambulances and responding to emergencies.

Mr Thomas pupil went on to work in the operation control room at St Leonards and wrote part of the plan for the Dorset ambulance service to become an NHS Trust.

He concluded his time in the HR department before joining Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in 2002 where his commitment to maritime safety and search and rescue has been seen at all levels.

This includes the leadership of operational functions of ship survey and inspections, Human Resource strategy and HM Coastguard search and rescue coordination, including as Regional Director, successfully leading the response operation to a large sea going ferry stranded on Blackpool beach.

Mr Thomas said it was a privilege to work as part of the “fantastic emergency services family”.

“This award is for them because without their dedication, without everything they do, this wouldn’t be the fantastic country it is,” said Mr Thomas.

He said: “There are people in both organisations, and the other emergency services, that give up so much of their time. They work so hard to look after other people and care for other people and without their efforts, so many people would be in a worse place than they are.

“We are fortunate in this country that we have so many good people who want to make a difference and want to help people.”

The 60-year-old has been one of the MCA’s Inclusion Champions and has promoted issues of diversity and equality campaigning to increase women joining Her Majesty’s Coastguard and improving female representation at senior levels within the Agency.

On his own initiative he worked with Stonewall to support vibrant LGBTQ+ initiatives across the MCA and he continues to champion under-represented groups and networks.

On the importance of inclusivity, he said: “I believe that we have to give everyone the opportunity to be their best and to be who they are, not just at work, but at home.

“For about eight or nine years I was chair of the Race Equality Council in Bournemouth and Dorset. It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed.

“I am involved in charity Recreate Dorset, which used to be Bournemouth 2026. It provides help with housing and community centres.

“I have enjoyed working with other people and trying to help other communities as well.”