Paul Blundell, originally from Chipping Sodbury, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours. Paul Blundell received his MBE for services to defence (Image: Paul Blundell)He also served in various other global locations, including Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Canada, Kenya, and Eastern Europe. After his military career, Mr Blundell joined the Ministry of Defence, where he continues to contribute to the nation’s defence. Mr Blundell has also served his local community for seven years as an on-call firefighter at Yate fire station. Mr Blundell, who attended Chipping Sodbury School, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.