Three Sutton residents joined the great and good this week when they were honoured with MBEs.

Those celebrating after the Queen’s Birthday Honours list was published on Saturday include Marcelle de Sousa, a retired nurse specialist, David Stevens, who works in Whitehall and broadcaster and former Sutton Guardian journalist Dotun Adebayo.

Mrs de Sousa, who lives in Carshalton, was recognised for her work setting up a pioneering hospital unit caring for adolescents at University College Hospital in London, where she worked until retiring last year.

The 58-year-old said she was “totally surprised” by her MBE. She said: “It’s a huge honour as a nurse to get that kind of recognition for doing a job I loved.”

Mrs de Sousa explained that before University College Hospital set up its adolescent unit 10 years ago there was “nothing around” for teenagers. She said: “I’m immensely proud of what the team achieved there. It’s had a huge impact bringing adolescent care up the agenda nationally.”

Asked about her retirement, Mrs de Sousa said she was “having a great time not having a routine”. But she admitted she was keeping busy with volunteer work. “I’m doing a little bit of work with traveller communities and refugee teenagers.”

Mr Stevens, a civil servant who has spent a number of years supporting military operations at the Ministry of Defence, said he was “very pleased and very honoured” with his MBE.

The Sutton resident, 42, added that he hoped to continue in his job for a long time.

He said: “It’s a very rewarding and challenging job and I’m going to keep going.”

The broadcaster and former Sutton Guardian journalist Dotun Adebayo has been appointed MBE for services to the arts.

Mr Adebayo, 48, began his career on this newspaper in the 1980s before becoming music editor at the Voice, the newspaper for the UK’s black community.

The Nigerian-born Londoner is best known for presenting the BBC Radio Five Live programme Up All Night, including the popular Word Football Phone-in.

With his reggae singer wife Carrol Thompson, he also set up Colourtelly, Britain’s first general interest black internet television station.

• Keith White from Sutton, was also awarded a CBE for services to international development as the Chief Executive of Crown Agents. Crown Agents is an international development company committed to global development and growth.

• Do you know anyone who has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.