RAF engineer from Hartlepool awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours List for work supporting service families
A member of the RAF from Hartlepool who has helped serving families feel more supported has spoken of her pride at being awarded an MBE.
Aircraft engineer Beth Andrews was recognised in last month’s King’s Birthday Honours List for her work supporting others.
She says while engineering is her trade, supporting and advocating for people has become a significant part of her service.
A large part of her honour is due to work she has done helping fellow service personnel balance family with military life, and came about from her own experiences as a serving mother.
Beth, 31, said: “When I had my first child, I experienced first-hand the challenges of balancing motherhood with military life, and I recognised how important it was for Service families to feel connected, supported and understood.”
Coffee mornings and informal conversations grew into wider networks involving the RAF, the NHS, local authorities and external organisations.
“Over time, I found myself helping to bridge those communities, ensuring that Service families and Servicewomen had a voice and could access the support they needed,” she said.
She also became involved in initiatives on women's health, bringing together Service personnel, healthcare providers and the NHS to help ensure the experiences of serving women were better understood when developing support pathways.
Beth, who joined the RAF in 2013 and is now a sergeant based in Lincolnshire, described her MBE as “completely unexpected”.
She added: “I never started any of this work for recognition; I simply wanted to make a difference and improve the experience of those around me.
“To be acknowledged in this way is a tremendous honour, and one I feel incredibly grateful for.
“This recognition reflects the contribution of many people and the strength of the communities we have built together.”
Beth added she is “immensely proud” of her Hartlepool roots. She attended High Tunstall College of Science before studying Aeronautical Engineering at Hartlepool College of Further Education.
She knew she wanted to join the Royal Air Force from around the age of 13, with her time with the town’s 473 Air Cadet Squadron playing a significant part in her ambition.
“Growing up in Hartlepool, I could never have imagined the experiences my career would bring, from working alongside exceptional people to developing both professionally and personally,” said Beth.