A Gedney Drove End man has been awarded an OBE for public service in the King’s New Year’s honours list.
Nicholas Leader worked in the prison service for 40 years.
After joining the prison service as an officer at HMP Birmingham in 1985, Nicholas moved to South Holland to work with HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire in 1993, before retiring last September.
He’s governed seven prisons and believes he was formally recognised for his work at HMP Berwyn, the UK’s largest public sector prison in Wales.
“The honours’ nomination was a complete surprise and I knew nothing about it prior to getting the official notification,” Nicholas said. “I kept it secret until published as I still wanted to be sure it was true.
“I fully recognise in my job, working in the prison service, I was nothing without the support of staff, managers and unions.
“Additionally my wife, Sue, like all prison families, has been fantastic in supporting me for the last 40 years.
“Sue and I are looking forward to receiving the award later in the year.
“I have loved the challenges and rewards of working in the prison service and will remember the thousands of great staff who have made the prison service so much better than the one I first joined –HMPPS is a career I would recommend to anyone as every day is different and you can really make a difference changing the lives of others.
“Most prisoners are released and become our neighbours – by working to reduce risks prison and probation staff are doing an outstanding job on a daily basis.
“There are challenges like a rising prison population and staff recruitment but it is a job that once involved in you can become hooked.”
