A pensioner who has dedicated his life to helping others was today celebrating after being named in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

Winston Nurse, of Rushey Mead, Leicester, has helped hundreds of people grieving the loss of a loved one since he started volunteering as a bereavement counsellor almost 20 years ago.

The 88-year-old, who is to receive an MBE for his services to the community, was among nine people from Leicestershire and Rutland to be recognised for their hard work and achievements.

He said he could not believe it when he found out. "I just stood there with the letter and I was terribly surprised, but then totally ecstatic," he said.

Mr Nurse, who is originally from Barbados, said he had always been determined to spend his life helping others following the death of his grandfather.

Aged 16, the loss hit him hard, but he had no-one to turn to. "When I lost my grandfather – his name was Arthur Winston Nurse – I lost my best friend," he said.

"It hurt very much. There was nobody there to help me. I had my family to help me, but nobody to teach me how to move out of the grief.

"I thought if I can do something when I grow up to help other people who are grieving, I would."

Mr Nurse moved to the UK to realise his dream and arrived in Leicester in 1957, working first as a mental health nurse at the Towers Hospital, then as a social worker. He started training to become a bereavement councillor in 2001, and later took on a volunteering role with Cruse Bereavement Care.

Despite his age, Mr Nurse still volunteers every week, and is often called on to give emergency care and advice.

He is an active member in countless community groups across the city, including the African Caribbean Centre, the Leicester Barbados Association, the West Indian Senior Citizens Project and the Organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia Research.

He was also a city councillor for 10 years, elected for the Rushey Mead ward in 1997.

In 2007, he was awarded the title of Honorary Alderman to the city of Leicester – and remains the only black individual to hold such an accolade.

But Mr Nurse said he never expected any kind of reward for his work.

"It has been my mission in life to help others and that is what I enjoy. Although, I am looking forward to getting my award – it will be an absolutely fabulous day."

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, which puts the honours list together for the Queen, said Mr Nurse had "a unique quality of being able to quickly establish a rapport and trust with those he helps. He has an abundance of genuine warmth and sensitivity".

Councillor Culdipp Singh Bhatti, who was a councillor with Mr Nurse, said: "He is a man that people in the ward still miss a lot."

Dennis "Sugar" Christopher, who organises the Leicester Caribbean Carnival, said Winston's support for the event was limitless.

"I am over the moon to hear Winston has been recognised with this at last," added Mr Christopher.

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