A FORMER University of York lecturer, who has spent his life making foreign languages accessible to all, has been made an OBE.

Michael Buckby, 61, from Alne, near Easingwold, was given a knighthood by the French government in 1985 for his services to French culture.

Now he has been included in the New Year's honours list for services to foreign language studies.

Mr Buckby retired as head of the language teaching centre at the University of York in 1990, to be an independent teacher and writer.

Although the honour came completely out of the blue he said he was thrilled to be recognised.

He said: "Over the past 40 years, language teaching has changed enormously from what it was, and I've been fortunate enough to be involved in some of the projects that have helped to bring about that change, working with teams of wonderful people, some of them teachers in schools in and around York.

"This seems to recognise all the work we've done together."

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, January 02, 2002