German medal of honour for selfless gran

PROUD: Baerbel Grayson with the letter informing her of the honour

A LIFETIME of nurturing Anglo-German relations has seen a Saddleworth grandma bestowed with one of her country’s highest honours.

Baerbel Grayson has been awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz, — the Order of Merit of Federal Republic of Germany.

The top award, similar in stature to an MBE, was presented to her by the German ambassador Herr Georg Boomgarden during a celebratory ceremony.

Mrs Grayson, who grew up in a small township outside Frankfurt, moved to the UK for a six-month stint with a Manchester-based company. Forty-eight years later she has forged a life and family for herself in Denshaw, and become a much-loved member of the community.

Discovering she’d be granted the medal she said: “I was just gobsmacked, it was such a nice surprise.”

The prestigious order has been awarded to the 68-year-old volunteer for her work to promote German language and culture, for strengthening Anglo-German relations and for her work with the German Protestant Churches in the North-West.

A vicar and close friend, who has since moved back to Germany from the UK, nominated Mrs Grayson and prompted the letter from the German embassy.

Mrs Grayson spent 22 happy years as a teacher at Blue Coat School, setting up an annual exchange project which saw her take hundreds of local pupils to experience life in her homeland.

But she was just as active outside of work, helping to co-author A-level teaching materials as well as helping stage events at universities as a member of the Association for Language Learning.

She’s conducted services at churches across the North-West in her role as a reader, helped out at luncheon groups for the elderly in Uppermill and give up her time to be a volunteer at the village-run library in Delph.

She said: “I’ve been picked out but I’m one of many, many people give up their time.

“That said I am very proud to be receiving it.”

Mrs Grayson, who has three sons and three young grandchildren, says she couldn’t have thrown herself as full-heartedly at her voluntary activities without the support of her English husband John.

She said: “He’s been my rock.”