A VOLUNTEER who has dedicated his time to help those in need has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Steve Vear, from Andover, has been made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his voluntary service in Hampshire.

Now chairman of the Southern Premier Cricket League, Steve was previously general secretary for almost 13 years and used to score matches for 25 years.

He said: “I began scoring matches after my PE teacher once taught me how to score and then the opportunity came up to be even more involved with cricket and give something back to the sport I began to love.”

He has also been a secretary of the Winchester Cricket League and is a trustee of the University of Winchester Student Union.

For 14 years, Steve has also volunteered with the Samaritans in Salisbury, first acting as a listening volunteering and then as chair of the branch.

“Emotional health is really important, certain groups of people find it difficult to talk about their feelings and open up, but they reach out to us.

“Samaritans takes thousands of calls every single months and I’ve spoken to a lot of people over the years and it has changed as we now answer emails and text messages.”

On top of these roles he has been a magistrate since 2010 and is now Chair of the Bench at Basingstoke Magistrates Court.

He is also a school governor at Lymington House in Basingstoke, having previously been the same position at Clatford Primary School, and is a presenter on Castledown FM.

Steve carries out his various volunteering roles alongside a full-time as a head of resource management at an exam board and in despite of his disability.

He was born with cerebral palsy which impacts his ability to walk, stand and undertake other regular duties – but he said his disability does not define him.

“Being born with a disability, volunteering is about giving back and helping people that have helped me through my life.

“I do struggle with things like balance and walking distances but I’ve just got to make sure that when I go to events I can park close and know where I’m going.

“It is not without its challenges but I don’t let it dictate how I live my life.”

Steve said that he found out about the honour five weeks ago and has had to keep it secret since.

“I’ve been an emotional wreck, it is something that happens to other people not people like me.

“It is a shock and it is still I shock, I won’t quite believe it until I go to the investiture. I am so humbled by it.”.

He was nominated for the title by his sister, Amy Bailey. He said: “It is very surreal, it is an honour and a privilege. It is very touching that my sister and other people wanted me to be recognised.”