IT'S time to celebrate for York clockmaker Geoffrey Newey, who has been made an MBE for services to horology.

York-born Mr Newey started working with clocks when he was 14 and has worked in horology for the past 61 years. It was this effort and hard work that earned him the honour, the insignia for which was presented to him by the Queen.

The most famous clock he has worked on is the impressive Coney Street clock.

Mr Newey was working on the project when his father died in 1964, but he carried on working to finish the clock on schedule.

Since winning the honour he has received a large pile of congratulatory letters, but he insists that it will not change him.

He said: "It is really flattering that someone has recognised my work and nominated me.

"I never ever thought it would happen to me. It really is quite splendid."

Updated: 08:43 Tuesday, July 08, 2003