BRAINTREE'S Stephen O'Brien, CBE, the chairman of Barts and London Hospitals NHS Trust since March 2010, has been knighted by the Queen in her New Year Honours List for services to healthcare and the community in London.
Labour leader, Ed Miliband, recently appointed him to run a taskforce to draw up a national mental health strategy. Sir Stephen is also chairman of International Health Partners, Unitas Communications and deputy chairman of Woods River Cruises and Water City Developments.
He was former chairman of London First, the business campaign group which works to support and shape London's future, and is currently president of Proshanti, a new charity promoting the construction of a health centre in Bangladesh.
He is a trustee/director of the High Street Fund, Mayor's Fund for London, Barts and the London Charity and the Sports and Health Partnership
Sir Stephen said: "I am very pleased to receive this honour. It has been my privilege to work with the people of East London for many years ".
Trust chief executive Peter Morris, said: "Stephen has worked tirelessly to address health inequalities since becoming trust chairman. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this honour.
Cllr Brian Beale, who has been awarded an MBE, was persuaded 25 years ago to become a Maldon district councillor by a Tory, but shocked everyone by accepting, but as an independent. The people of Southminster have re-elected him as such seven times since.
"I think it is for being an independent and for a long time the leader of the opposition at Maldon Council that I have got this award, and the fact that I stand up for the village and the Dengie."
Sadly, news of Brian's award came just days after the death of his mother Doris. "Earlier this month I was able to scatter her ashes on my dad's grave, who was killed in the war. She never remarried after his death."
Brian started work after Chelmsford Technical College as the last station clerk at Southminster station in 1956, leaving when steam stopped and diesels were introduced in 1961.
He then joined the Central Electricity Generating Board which ran Bradwell Power Station but was based in Leatherhead, a 74-mile each-way daily trip. He retired at 50 and now 71 has been the district councillor for just over 25 years and 15 years continuing chairman of the parish council.
"I would really like to know who put my name forward but have had to keep this secret until now so I have not been able to make inquiries.
"I will continue to serve the village as long as the people want me. I have always believed there was no place for parties in local politics. If I had been a Conservative would reds and greens have sought my help? I doubt it."
In his time Brian has fought the closure of Barclays bank and finally negotiated a Barclays cash-point when the bank insisted on leaving. He twice brought post offices back from closure. the present one is "doing well" in a newsagents.
And he continues to fight for late night public transport which he says would allow Dengie people to get home from London shows late at night.
