MIKE BULL IS AWARDED THE MBE!

Congratulations go to Mike Bull, the long serving PE teacher at Whitehall Primary School . He has been awarded the MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours list for services to primary education in Leicester and the local community. He is thrilled by the news and is looking forward to receiving his award from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace later this year.

Mike has been teaching here at Whitehall for 36 years in which time he has not missed a single day! During his school week he teaches every single child from Year 1 up to Year 6 and hence has to remember over 360 names! He also taught many mums and dads of the children he teaches today!

Mike was recently the runner-up in a local award celebrating excellence in after-school activities. As well as teaching PE and music during school hours Mike also runs out-of-hours football, cricket, athletics, cross country and gymnastics clubs.

Outside of school Mike is a very busy man indeed. He is always hill-walking or half-way up a mountain and is a committed member of the Leicester Drama Society based at The Little Theatre in Dover Street . He has appeared in many plays including dressed as a pantomime Dame in Dick Whittington at the theatre last Christmas – it was hilarious!

He loves all sports and especially cricket. He still plays for the Leicester Teachers Cricket Club. He has been Secretary of the Leicestershire Schools Cricket Association since 1981 as well as Chairman of the Leicester and District Primary Schools Football Association. As a football referee he has lost count of the number of Saturday mornings he has been officiating at schools matches at all levels.

Mike is a great storyteller and frequently gives assemblies which have the children in stitches, especially his poetry readings about Michael Rosen's son Eddie (he was pictured in last month's Echo doing just that with Filbert Fox in tow).

He is well-loved by all the children at Whitehall and brightens up the day of all the staff who work with him. It is good that he has been recognised for all his hard work. He really deserves this award.

Well done Mike!