TOP Thornton water engineer Ivan Reid is to join the celebrity ranks of footballer Tony Adams, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and newsreader Trevor McDonald receiving honours in the Queen's Birthday List.

Aberdeen-born Ivan, 60, is to bag an MBE from Her Majesty following 36 years sterling work to the water industry and the true Scotsman plans to wear his kilt to meet her.

He told the Citizen: "I was absolutely speechless when the letter came last month with On Her Majesty's Service on it.

"It's like a dream and I must share my success with my wife Moira for all her tolerance over the years when I've suddenly been called to work at all hours.

"Thanks to all my managers, especially David Nicholas and John Ringham who put me forward for this amazing accolade and consider me worthy of such praise.

"I retire in two weeks so this is really going out on a high. It beats a gold watch any day"

Ivan is based at the Burton Road depot in Blackpool and joined the team at North West Water in 1990 after many years working for local authorities in Thornton and Wyre.

He often went far beyond the call of duty for his customers including jumping into a rowing boat when Fleetwood sea wall was breached in 1977 and again in the Great Eccleston floods of '79 to sandbag local pumping stations.

Family from far and wide, including daughter Donna who now lives in Australia, plan to travel to Thornton next month to hold a special celebration in honour of Ivan who said he would continue to keep his hand in with the water business two days a week.

General manager of network services for NWW, John Ringham, said: "I am absolutely delighted Ivan should receive this award for the service he has given to the people of Wyre.

"There are very few people who deserve this honour more."

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