Birmingham’s highways official is ‘honoured’ to be made an MBE

A National Highways employee said he was “very, very honoured” to be made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Frank Bird, who provides control room expertise, has played a major role in operations including the city’s 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2012 Olympics and the Covid-19 response.

The 65-year-old from Birmingham joined National Highways 20 years ago and is retiring in September.

He said: “There have been rewards day in and day out waking up in the morning and then going to bed knowing I’ve made a difference in people’s lives.”

Mr Bird said he was “absolutely blown away” to learn of the honour, adding: “My wife opened the letter as I was walking and watching my son playing cricket, walking around the boundary.

“He stopped me in (my) way.”

One of his favorite memories was from 2004, when a 10-year-old boy in need of a life-saving transfusion was stranded on the M5 when his father’s car broke down.

Mr Bird was in the control room and helped take the child and his mother to hospital in a 4×4 National Highway Patrol vehicle, making sure he made the appointment with five minutes to spare.

“He came out the other side really healthy,” added Mr Bird.

He also recalled that the RAF Red Arrows had changed their activities ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The original plan was for the aircraft to lay down smoke as they passed over Walsall, Mr Bird explained.

But he added: “We had some concerns about the safety of nine red planes flying so low over the M6.

“So I kindly asked the Red Arrows if they would lay down smoke until they were inside the M6 ​​and approaching Perry Barr.”

Mr Bird also organizes volunteers to support festivals, Crufts and the Cosford air show.

He said his father, who died in February, “would have been blown away that I got this award”, adding: “So this is for dad.”