A FORMER police superintendent has become an MBE in recognition of his services to Salvation Army emergency relief operations worldwide.

Brian Oxley, who now lives in Bristol, grew up in Sherburn Hill, near Durham, where he attended the local Salvation Army Church.

He was an officer in the Durham and Cleveland forces.

Now retired, he is a member of the Bristol Easton Corps and first took part in Salvation Army emergency relief operations in 1999, when he managed relief operations in Kosovo.

His professional background proved invaluable to the Salvation Army's operations.

From 2000 to 2001, he managed the Army's feeding programme in Kenya, which brought relief to 100,000 people during a devastating drought.

In 2002, he helped an emergency programme in Malawi, where he identified a huge need to help vulnerable children and orphans suffering as a result of a massive rise in HIV and Aids. Through his negotiating skills, he secured Government funding for vital support programmes for children.

In 2003 and last year, he volunteered to help in southern Iraq, where he led the Salvation Army's community recovery programme.

Under his leadership the Army's team rebuilt schools, clinics, roads and water supplies.

This week, his services were recognised when he attended a ceremony at Buckingham Palace at which he became an MBE.