SUE Wilkinson, librarian at Winson Green Prison in Birmingham, who was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, spent her childhood in Evesham.

She was born in Bengeworth and when the family moved to Hampton she went to Hampton CE First School before gping to Prince Henry's in 1965 and afterwards she went to Birmingham Polytechnic to get her qualifications as a librarian.

Mrs Wilkinson then joined Birmingham City Council's library services and for upwards of 20 years has worked for the council as librarian at Winson Green Prison.

"I was very pleased to receive the honour for services to reading and literacy," she said. "It seemed especially appropriate as 2008 is the National Year of Reading."

Although she has been living away since leaving school. Mrs Wilkinson, nee Dennick, still regards Evesham as home and regularly visits her mother in Hampton.