THE dedicated work of a pair of Tynedale university experts has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Veryan Johnston has been made an MBE for services to higher education.

And Professor Roy Sandbach has been awarded an OBE for services to science, innovation and skills.

Veryan (60) grew up at Settlingstones Farm in Tynedale and was a pupil of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Hexham in the 1970s.

Now based in Shotley Bridge, Veryan was executive director of human resources at Newcastle University.

Prior to her retirement in 2015, she chaired the boards of Universities HR and the Russell Group HR Directors. She was also a member of the 2015 universities review into efficiency and effectiveness of higher education and a member of the EU review on recruitment of researchers.

Veryan, who joined the university in 1998, said: “I am delighted but it is a real surprise. I couldn’t believe it when I received the letter.

“I don’t think the honour is just for me; it’s for everyone I worked with.

“It was a genuine privilege to work at Newcastle University, there are some fantastic people there.”

Prof. Sandbach, who lived in Fourstones for 15 years, is director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle.

In this role, the 63 year old headed a team which works to match the needs and demands of an ageing population with science, technology and deisgn.

He led the bid for Newcastle’s first University Technical College and chairs the national Smart Specialisation Hub and sits on the BEIS advisory group for science and innovation audits.

Until recently, he chaired the Innovation Board for the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership.

One of his inventions is now a $150m business in the USA.

He said: “I got my letter, I looked at it and then I put it down and poured myself a glass of wine and looked at it again.

“I’m amazed and really humbled to think that I’m in a community of people who have done amazing things.

“The work I do in the context of science, innovation and skills would be impossible without the constant support of colleagues in the university and across many organisations.

“This award is really for all of them.”