A North East businessman has been awarded an MBE from Princess Anne as recognition of his lifetime's work in the marine services.

Harry Wilson, 82 from Washington, has been awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal for his significant contributions to the marine services sector in the UK. 

As the founder and chairman of South Shields based UK Docks, Harry has played a pivotal role in revitalising dockyards and marine operations across the region and beyond. 

Harry Wilson and his wife, Audrey, at Winsor Castle with his MBEHarry Wilson and his wife, Audrey, at Winsor Castle with his MBE (Image: pr) Since establishing UK Docks from a single slipway in 1992, Harry has successfully transformed the marine services on Tyneside and Teesside, as well as the south coast.

A landmark achievement for UK Docks came when the company re-opened the historic Smith's Docks on the River Tees, enabling them to secure substantial contracts with the Royal Navy and serve a variety of maritime vessels from their two dry docks. 

Harry received his honour during the King's first Birthday Honours List, and he, along with his family, attended a presentation ceremony at Windsor Castle. 

Harry said: "It was definitely one of the highlights of my life. Windsor Castle is a fabulous place, and it was a fantastic day for all of us." 

With his MBE, Harry hopes to highlight the vital role of the marine industry in the UK. He said: “Marine services make a huge and important contribution to our country,.

“I was proud to represent marine services and engineering among so many other people being honoured, it's really pleasing that our industry is being recognised.”

The Wilsons who are all involved with the business now at Windsor Castle, from left to right, Chris, Audrey, Harry, Gary and Jonathan.The Wilsons who are all involved with the business now at Windsor Castle, from left to right, Chris, Audrey, Harry, Gary and Jonathan. (Image: pr) Under Harry's leadership, UK Docks has become a key player in the UK ship repair industry, focusing increasingly on servicing Ministry of Defence contracts.

The company achieved a milestone last year by winning a £250 million contract to service and maintain five Batch 2 Offshore Patrol vessels worldwide.

Looking to the future, Harry expressed excitement about UK Docks’ potential for growth.

“In many ways, we might only just have put the foundations in place,” he said, highlighting his sons' commitment to driving the company forward.

“What we’ve achieved so far might just be the launch pad for greater things ahead.”

Employing more than 200 people and supporting numerous supply chain jobs, Harry’s vision for UK Docks has been fuelled by a desire to regenerate areas of industrial decline and give back to the community through job creation.

He said: "The object of the exercise, after founding UK Docks and being able to make a living out of it, was to genuinely put something back into the ship repair industry.

"I'd had a pretty decent life from it, not necessarily an easy one, but a decent one and I believed in the industry and its potential and wanted to see it do well."