Library manager honoured by Queen

Highlights have included the building project at New Ash Green

A woman who joined Kent's library service as a teenage Saturday assistant and went on to work for it for more than 30 years has been made an MBE.

Gill Bromley, 49, started work at Tenterden as a 16-year-old. Now a strategic manager, she said her career so far had been "long and varied"

An avid reader as a child, she thought of teaching - but the idea of standing before a class "scared her silly".

"Library work has an image of being stuffy. It's far from that," she said.

Mrs Bromley said her career had involved working across Kent, and briefly at the Department for Culture, but the highlights for her had been building projects, most recently in Sevenoaks, Otford and New Ash Green.

Just helping people who perhaps most need your help has been very rewarding Gill Bromley

She said she always knew she wanted to work with people and help people and her aunt had suggested library service.

"I haven't looked back since," she said.

She said: "The people you meet, the people you work with, the importance of being able to read, the use of libraries to help children get on that ladder, and just helping people who perhaps most need your help has been very rewarding."

Mrs Bromley, who is also a parish councillor in Smarden, was recognised for her services to local government.

Kent's honours:

CBE

• David Humphrey Gavin Penney, vice-president, BT Global Business Markets, for services to the communications industry, Tunbridge Wells

OBE

• David John Astley. chief executive, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, for services to the NHS, West Malling
• Jennifer Susan Byers, former executive director, Charities Aid Foundation, for services to charity
• Peter John Scales, former chief executive, London Pensions Fund Authority, for services to Local Government, Whitstable
• Professor Ian Swingland, founder, the Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, for services to conservation, Canterbury

MBE

• Gill Bromley. Strategic manager, Kent County Council Libraries and Archives, for services to local government
• Pamela Mary Comber, for services to mental health in Folkestone
• Brian Douglas Flood, QPM, for services to the police
• Daphne Geer, president, Southern Counties Amateur Swimming Association, for services to Sport, Tunbridge Wells
• Michael Geer, swimming coach and president, Royal Tunbridge Wells Monson Swimming Club, for services to sport
• Brenda Chamberlin Heesom, for services to the Sea Cadet Corps in Gravesend
• Ann Christine Hilton, teacher, Dame Janet Community Junior School, Ramsgate, for services to education
• Alexander John King, deputy leader, Kent County Council, for services to local government, Hawkhurst
• Roger Edward Newman, for charitable services, Margate
• Bridget Carlile Overton, former manager, Maidstone Volunteer Bureau, for services to the community
• Catherine Potter, specialist bed co-ordinator, Medway NHS Trust, for services to the NHS
• Malcolm Preece, project manager, HM Revenue and Customs, Dover
• Gurdial Singh Rai, for services to the Sikh community in Dartford
• Ann Adele Susan Maria Roberts, for services to the community in Edenbridge
• Adrienne Elizabeth Smith, assistant head teacher, the North School, Ashford for services to education
• Paul Keith Trumble, for services to the community in Thanet

QPM

• Ian Gedge, former constable, Kent Police