A FORMER teacher and council officer whose lifelong passion for education began while growing up in the North-East has been given an OBE.

Eric Wood was born in Langley Moor, near Durham, the son of a miner.

He went to Brandon Junior and Ushaw Moor Secondary schools before moving to Staffordshire aged 14, after a Bowburn pit closed.

Dr Wood taught in Manchester for seven years before becoming an education officer with Staffordshire County Council.

He was county education officer for Warwickshire between 1995 and 2006 and chief executive of Warwickshire Police Authority from 2006 to 2008.

For five years, he chaired a national committee aimed at bringing together the private and state school sectors.

During his time in Warwickshire, he built close links with Durham County Council which saw several Durham cabinet members visit his adopted county.

Now 61, Dr Wood continues to be active in charity work, is a Deputy Lieutenant for Warwickshire and serves as chair of governors of a primary school.

He is married to Ruth, a retired teacher, and has two daughters: Rebecca, 24, and Katie, 23.

Dr Wood was given an Order of the British Empire for services to education and the community in Warwickshire in the New Year Honours list.