A LONG-SERVING soldier born and bred in Ellesmere Port was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
William Mott, Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM) for the London district, grew up in Overpool and has been in the army for more than 25 years.
The father-of-one, known by his middle name Daran, went to Sutton High School and worked at Mosswood Brothers on the Rossmore Industrial Estate before joining the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in April 1979.
Sgt Maj Mott, 46, has served with the battalion in Belize, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Kenya and the USA.
He also completed operational tours of Northern Ireland and in the Falklands during the 1982 conflict.
Sgt Maj Mott's two younger brothers, Nicholas and Jonathan, are also in the Welsh Guards and their mother Barbara, who moved away from the town four years ago, paid tribute to them all.
She said: 'My daughter Sarah-Jane and I are very proud of the boys. Billy still has friends in Ellesmere Port, so they'll be delighted to hear about him being made an OBE.'
The year after he took over his present role in London in 2002, Sgt Maj Mott for the first time helped supervise arrangements for the annual Trooping of the Colour in Horse Guards Parade.
He has since been involved in the ceremonial arrangements for the Queen Mother's funeral and the Queen's golden jubilee state procession.
Sgt Maj Mott has also played a pivotal role in repatriation ceremonies for service personnel killed while serving in Iraq.
