A WARRINGTON man who served 40 years in uniform – in the army and as a police officer – has been presented with the MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Brian Flanagan, of Winwick, received the award for services to international international police development in Iraq and Afghanistan as a police advisor with the European Union Police Mission.
He won a warm smile from the Queen when she spotted he was wearing a Brigade of Guards regimental tie 
and asked what his connection was with the Guards.
He was able to tell her as a lance sergeant in the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards he had conveyed Prince Charles across the Havel River in West Berlin on a heavy terry tank transporter in 1978.
Mr Flanagan said he was “ much humbled and extremely privileged” to be made an MBE and was pleased his work in Iraq and Southern Afghanistan had been formally recognised by The Queen.
But he added: “However, my thoughts, especially at this time of the year are with the families who have lost loved ones during both the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
He said he had attended more than 300 repatriation ceremonies for the fallen retuning home, something he would never forget.
“We should always remember the fallen and injured who were endeavouring to bring peace and security to the people of both countries. We should never take our own country for granted, and all that it is and all that it can be.”
Mr Flanagan served in the Welsh Guards in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and West Berlin before becoming a member of the Greater Manchester Police.
On retiring from the police, he was a senior training development officer and was selected to represent the International Police Secondments Team for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
In 2006/7 he was posted to Basra, Iraq and as training co-ordinator at the Police Academy was pivotal in re-training the Iraqi police service.
In late 2007 Brian he joined a small police team advising the Afghanistan uniformed police in Helmand.
Mr Flanagan is married to Anne Marie and they three children, Rebecca, 36, who lives in New Zealand. Kimberley, 28, who lives in London and Matthew, 19, who is attending Warrington Collegiate.
Picture: Mr Flanagan with his son, Matthew, after the presentation.
MBE – after 40 years in uniform
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
