Dedicated charity man shocked by MBE

Fundraiser Derek MacCallum has spent 30 years of his life dedicated to charity and has been rewarded for his efforts with an MBE.

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The passionate Dumbarton dad was shocked to receive the important letter in early May and has been delighted to be able to share the news with family, friends and colleagues after his honour was revealed publicly earlier this month.

However, the modest 50-year-old admitted he thought wife Christine was winding him up when she opened the mail confirming the MBE to Derek, who has been blind from birth.

The proud tax worker told the Lennox Herald: “It’s quite strange. It’s some shock. On the first bank holiday in May, I got a letter on the Saturday morning.

Derek, who was nominated by workmates at the East Kilbride tax office who also put him forward for a trip to the royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, was sworn to secrecy and told how it was hard to keep quiet about the Member of the British Empire honour.

He said: “Nobody else could know but it was almost impossible not to tell. Then the day it went public, we were just sitting the whole day waiting on 10.30pm. It was mad.