ONE of County Durham's best known citizens has talked of his joy at meeting the Queen to collect his MBE.

Alderman Joe Walker, former chairman of Durham County Council, received his MBE for his work as a councillor on the now-defunct Stanley Urban District Council, Derwentside District Council and the county council. He served for a total 34 years.

Mr Walker, who picked up his MBE from the Queen on Wednesday, said: "The Queen seemed especially interested in the work we had done when I was chairman of the county's education department in coming up with innovative ideas to stop bullying in schools."

Mr Walker was born and bred in Dipton, north-west Durham. His promising career in football ended when he sustained a serious leg injury which left him with disabilities. That led him to work for the rights of disabled people. He also received the MBE for working with the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency established to create new jobs after the Consett Steelworks closed down.

A committed Christian and life-long socialist, Mr Walker was a magistrate for 32 years.

He was chairman at Derwentside District Council, founder member of the Leazes Youth Club and founder member of Dipton Community Centre. His duties as a governor took in Lanchester St Bede's Comprehensive School, Tanfield Comprehensive School, Derwentside College and Houghall Agricultural College. He was also a board member of the former North-West Durham Hospital Committee.

A former Coal Board employee, Mr Walker was married to Sandra who died last year. He has three children and a number of grandchildren.