A VOLUNTARY geologist who has been conserving the Black Country’s finest rocks for more than 40 years has been awarded an MBE for his efforts.

Alan Cutler, aged 69, was recognised by the Queen in her New Years Honours list for his voluntary service to geological conservation across the region.

The Wordsley volunteer said he was in shock when he received a call from Buckingham Palace in November asking him whether he would accept the award.

He said: “It came as such a shock. At first I was rather nonplussed, but when it began to sink in I was absolutely thrilled.

“I’m not sure who nominated me, I suspect it was my colleagues at Natural England and supported by the Black Country Geological Society.”

Alan, an Old Edwardian who was born and bred in Stourbridge, has been involved in geological conservation – his “rather pleasant hobby” – for more than 40 years.

“It was always an interest of mine,” he said: “I’ve always been intrigued about what lies beneath our feet. I read physics at university, which only increased my interest in what is a fascinating subject.

“The thing I am most proud of was back in the 1980s when the four Black Country boroughs and Birmingham were creating their planning policy.

“They were including sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs) and were only going to include areas of local wildlife, but I was able to convince them to include geological factors into their policies, which are still used today.”

Now retired, Alan spent most of his working life in marketing, but would always find time for his beloved pastime.

His latest project has seen him involved with the Black Country’s bid to become England’s third UNESCO Geopark – which will internationally promote the significant part the region played in the industrial revolution.

Alan said: “We’re very lucky in the Black Country that we have quite a wide variety of rocks and minerals under the ground here, making it one of the most diverse geological areas in the world.

“Without it, especially the coal, we would not have had our great industrial history.”

He added: “I just feel very fortunate that I have been able to devote my time to something I enjoy so much.”