Rescue hero Peter is quite a celebrity

Peter with his MBE

INTERNATIONAL rescue hero Peter Stevenson is back home in Royton after a receiving an MBE for services to local government and international search and rescue from the Queen.

He spent a couple of minutes talking to the Queen.

“She asked me how I got involved with international search and rescue, and I explained it was through the fire service, though the international part is voluntary.

“She knew I had been to Haiti, asked me where else I had been and I told her how distressing it was for those affected by disaster,” he said.

Mr Stevenson was with his partner, Deb Egan, his mother Mary Davenport and her partner Fred Scott, who also live in Royton.

He said: “It was an absolutely fantastic feeling, the whole day was wonderful, from the grand ballroom where it took place, to meeting the other recipients.

“I spoke to Take That’s Gary Barlow, actress Kate Winslett and golfer Darren Clarke, and they were all very sociable and interested in what everyone was doing.

“My mum absolutely loved it, being in the same room as the Queen, and for me it put the topping on what has been an interesting and varied career.”

The 51-year-old was honoured for a decade as leader of the UK International Search and Rescue team, and his efforts to rescue people caught up in major international disasters.

The job took him to every major overseas earthquake in ten years, ending with the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Mr Stevenson retired last year after 32 years with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.