A LIFETIME dedicated to musical education has landed a committed teacher the MBE.

When John Powell first joined Davenant Foundation School, in 1971, it had no music department at all, and he was faced with an uphill struggle to encourage greater interest in the arts.

But over the years he has proved instrumental in fostering musical talent at the Loughton school and in his time there pupils have undertook six European tours, performed at St Paul’s and put on a concert for the Queen Mother.

He said: “It’s something I never thought I would get, that’s for sure. I was shocked and surprised, but obviously it’s an honour to be recognised for 38 years in teaching.

“I was appointed to start up a music department on my own, and it was difficult. It was an all boys’ grammar school then.

“It really took off when the girls came in in 1980 and we became comprehensive. There are now more pupils playing instruments than there were in the whole school when I started.”

Now head of department for Music and Performing Arts at Davenant, Mr Powell, 60, from Theydon Bois, says he still enjoys fostering a love of music in pupils.

“You see them perform and they’ve all got smiling faces,” he said. “They’re taking on a skill which they can use for the rest of their lives.”