Nominate Melvyn Fletcher

Absent-minded academics had good reason to nominate Melvyn Fletcher for an honour since he has rescued many a briefcase and paper file left on a car roof, writes Olga Wojtas.

The parking control officer at Nottingham Trent University, whose role clearly includes reuniting academics with their property, has been appointed an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He said: 'You phone them and they say, "I've been looking for that".'

Mr Fletcher gets in about 90 minutes before he needs to start work to clean up broken glass and other debris. 'It's a university and it's got to look nice. There's a peregrine falcon that leaves bits of pigeon around.'

Marianne Howarth, dean of Nottingham Trent's School of Arts, Communication and Culture, said: 'Melvin is a shining example of someone who takes positive pleasure in giving outstanding service to all users.'