FIGHTER pilot Squadron Leader Andy Myers has been awarded an MBE.

The 35-year-old, who is a former pupil of South Craven School, Cross Hills, and was a member of Skipton Air Cadets, lives on the Lossiemouth RAF base with his wife Jo and three-year-old daughter Eve.

The award is to recognise the work he did at Boscombe Down, a Royal Air Force base in Wiltshire where he was posted for two-and-a-half years.

He then joined the famous 617 "Dambuster" squadron, which attacked the Eder and Mohne dams in May 1943.

His parents Michael and Pat Myers, who live on Newlands Drive, Cross Hills, told the Herald: "We are obviously delighted and very very proud of him. It was totally unexpected and is brilliant."

Sqdr Ldr Myers started his career with the RAF in his teens as a member of the 264 Squadron Air Training Corps in Skipton.

He was awarded a sixth form scholarship to complete his A-levels and gained his private pilot's licence at 17.

After finishing his education he joined the RAF in 1986 and completed his initial officer training at RAF College Cranwell.

Sqdr Ldr Myers has worked as a test pilot and instructor, training student pilots and navigators in all aspects of weaponry, tactics and air combat. He was also a display pilot flying the Tornado GR1 in 1999.

This year he took part in the first British bombing raids on Bagdad and is due to return at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, Royal Navy warrant officer Graham Wilkinson, who has cooked for the Queen, has also received an MBE.

The 47-year-old has been honoured for his catering work in the services and for his recruitment of young chefs to the Navy.

Mr Wilkinson's parents, Mary and Barry, who live on Manse Way, Sutton, told the Herald they were over the moon with their son's achievement.

"Graham has never been one to blow his own trumpet so we are very proud of him," added Mary.

Mr Wilkinson joined the Navy at the age of 15 and has worked his way through the ranks to the position of catering training officer at the Tor Point base in Devon.

He has cooked for the Queen on four occasions and led the first ever Navy team to win the prestigious national Masterchefs Grand Prix cooking title at Olympia in London.

Mr Wilkinson, of Haworth, said: "I am extremely proud to receive this honour, especially for my family because they have had to put up with long separations and my involvement in conflict overseas."

During the Falklands conflict, Mr Wilkinson served alongside the Duke of York on board HMS Invincible and has also seen action in the first Gulf war and Kosovo.

In recognition of his service he has been awarded the Falklands, Gulf, Air Operations in Iraq, Kosovo, Queen's Golden Jubilee, Long Service and Meritorious Service medals.

Mr Wilkinson and wife June, who live in Plympton, Devon had extra reason to be proud this week when son Kevin, 26, followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Navy.

The couple also have a daughter Jill, 21, who was christened in HMS Invincible's bell before it set sail for the Falklands.