MBE honours for couple who founded gymnastics club
BBCA couple who set up a gymnastics club over 50 years ago have been appointed MBEs in the King's New Year Honours.
Colin and Bernie Wright from Sandhurst, Berkshire, founded the Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1974 and said it was a "huge honour for the club" to have been appointed MBEs for services to women's gymnastics.
The couple said they were "quite shocked" to find out they had been recognised and it was a "great surprise".
The pair thanked everyone who had supported the gym and "the thousands and thousands of children who we hope have benefitted from being involved in sport over the past 50 years".
They said: "We managed to turn a hobby into a job - what more could you ask for?
"We did not expect it - we just love what we do."
Ms Wright, who began learning gymnastics herself aged seven, said "I loved it from the moment I started. I feel very privileged to have enjoyed something for all of our lives."
The couple said they planned to celebrate by opening some Champagne.
Anyone can nominate someone for The King's New Year Honours List.
Nominations by members of the public typically make up about a quarter of all recommendations.
