A couple from Sunderland who set up a charity in memory of their teenage son who was killed in Afghanistan said he will be "looking down with pride" after they were made MBEs.
Tom, 51, and Carla Cuthbertson, 48, set up the charity Brothers In Arms in memory of their 19-year-old son who Nathan died in 2008 and have devoted their lives ever since to raising money to help others.
Private Nathan Cuthbertson was only 19 when he was killed while on patrol with the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, in Helmand Province in June 2008.
But the parents channelled their grief into helping others and are currently developing the National Veterans’ Walk, a pathway in Sunderland, featuring the names of hundreds who have served their country both living and dead.
Among their achievements is an annual 60-mile (96.5km) Cuthy’s Big Bike Ride, from Catterick Garrison to their home city of Sunderland, and the Memorial Wall, which honours those who have given their lives in conflicts since 1945.
And after being awarded MBEs the couple say Nathan will be proud of them.
Mr Cuthbertson told PA news agency: "It’s a lovely, lovely gesture and such a massive honour to receive an award like that. It makes us so proud.
"I think our Nathan will be looking down on us and be really, really proud.
"I think it’s a pat on the back from our Nathan.
"This award is for everybody that’s chipped in to the charities and helped us.
"It’s really been gifted from the people who’ve supported us over the years."
The ambulance emergency technician and former paratrooper added: "We’re shocked really. We weren’t expecting it at all.
"We’ve just done a lot of charity work over the years – built Memorial Walls and things.
"It wasn’t for any awards or anything, we just did that in memory of our son, really."
Cuthy’s Big Bike Ride has become a huge annual event, although it had to be cancelled this year due to coronavirus, and the Veterans’ Walk in Mowbray Park, Sunderland, already features more than 700 names.
It is made up of granite plaques bearing an individual’s name, rank and badge of their military unit, which are laid on the pathway as a permanent reminder of anyone who has served.
Mr Cuthbertson added: "It’s not just about how many years you’ve served or how many medals you’ve won or how good you were in the forces.
"It’s just recognising your own personal achievements, your own military history."
Others from Sunderland who were made MBEs include David Scrafton for services to the Scouts and to the community in South Tyneside and Sunderland Kim Elizabeth Sheers who is the organiser for Lumley Boccia and Social Group for voluntary service to Young People with Disabilities in Houghton-le-Spring.
Gerard Francis Hilton Donnelly who is team leader, at the People and Capability group, Apprenticeship team was also made MBE for services to Social Mobility.
More on the Cuthbertsons’ work can be found here.
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