Jennings author honoured

Mr Buckeridge, 90, has lived with his family in Barcombe Mills, near Lewes, for the past 37 years.

His son Tim this week said his father felt thrilled and surprised to have been honoured in this way for services to literature.

And he added: 'The family are very proud that after 50 years his work has been acknowledged in this way.'

The first Jennings book, Jennings Goes To School, was published in 1950.

Mr Buckeridge came up with the Jennings schoolboy character while working as a boarding school teacher in Ramsgate.

He made up Jennings stories to encourage the children to go to bed.

'He made them up as he went along. They became something of cult at the school and he then decided to jot them down on paper,' added Tim.

The stories were much enjoyed on radio, and 25 Jennings books in all were published. They have been translated into 12 languages including Indonesian and Mandarin Chinese.

Mr Buckeridge went to school at Seaford College and has a great love for East Sussex.

He has a wife, Eileen, children Tim, Corin and Sally, and grandchildren.

Mr Buckeridge has never retired. He still works at his desk and responds to letters from Jennings devotees all over the world.

He was nominated for the pleasure he has given to those who were young or who have recovered their youth in the enjoyment of his plays and stories.

l Jim Hicks from Kingston, near Lewes, non-executive chairman of electronics company Amplicon Liveline Ltd, has been made an MBE for services to business and the Sussex community.

Mr Hicks, 60, was a non-executive director of Sussex Enterprise for nine years, vice-chairman of Business Link Sussex and a founder member of the Sussex Learning and Skills Council.

He also helped create and manage the Sussex Innovation Centre at Sussex University.

Mr Hicks said: 'I'm flattered and delighted. Sussex has been a great place to run my business and the county has been good to me.

'It therefore just seemed right to give some of my time back to the community.'

Mr Hicks has a wife, Heather, a daughter, a son, a stepson and grandchildren.