By Ken Bennett

Pictures

THE humble king / master of the mountains left his hilltop idyll to receive a personal accolade directly from the hands of The Queen.

Mick Nield, leader one of Britain’s most prestigious rescue teams for 25 years, was awarded an MBE in Her Majesty’s New Year’s honours list for services to mountain rescue and to the community in Greater Manchester.

And he travelled to Buckingham Palace with his proud wife Trisha and daughters, Georgia and Robyn, to collect his distinguished award.

In a first interview with the Oldham Times after the ceremony, Mick revealed the Queen spent a couple of minutes in conversation with him.

He said: “The Queen asked where the mountains were in Manchester and I explained our location was actually in Saddleworth in the Pennines.

“She then asked me to tell her a bit more about myself. She was marvellous, very quietly spoken. It was an amazing experience.”

He added: “I thought it was wonderful the ceremony was to actually be at Buckingham Palace itself but when I learned the Queen was to make the presentation that really was double icing on the cake.”

And Mick’s honour lead to an avalanche of praise on social media from grateful supporters and people whose lives he had help save.

He lead Oldham Mountain Rescue Team until he became the organisation’s chairman just over a year ago and he is a key member of the Search and Rescue Dog Association.

When he first learned of the honour, Mick, who lives in Mossley, said: “It is really a team effort.

“Our rescue team is one big family — and I’m really proud of that. I’ll always be Mick of Mountain rescue — never Mick MBE.”

During his time as the team’s leader OMRT earned an enviable reputation of creating "the best morale and family spirit of all UK mountain rescue services."

His illustrious volunteer mountain rescue career which showed his high-level attributes began on the first major call-out to the Lockerbie air crash in December, 1988.

Commenting on the MBE, OMRTs new leader Matt Neild, said: “The team are delighted for Mick and couldn’t think of a better award for him to receive as he approaches 30 years in the team.”

And OMRT took to social media to praise their shy hero saying: “Massive congratulations to a wonderfully respected man who has dedicated his entire adult life to our team.

“We would also like to take the opportunity to thank his amazing family as he would not have been able to give such commitment without their unwavering support and understanding.” Ends //