Paul Murray awarded MBE
A teacher who has inspired hundreds of Sheppey children in a career spanning more than three decades has been recognised in the New Years Honours list.
Paul Murray, head of community cohesion at the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s west site, has been made and MBE for services to education. The 56-year old, who has spent his whole career on the Island, said he was shocked to receive the award.
Mr Murray, who lives in Maidstone with his wife Margaret, is in his 36th year of teaching, having embarked on his career at the age of 21. He was born in Durham and studied history at the city’s university before moving to Kent in 1975 to teach at Danley Middle School. In 1987 he moved to the then Sir Thomas Cheyne School and stayed there as it became Cheyne Middle School in 1990 and then the Academy in 2009.
Mr Murray worked as a PE teacher and a humanities teacher before taking up his current post at the Academy in Jefferson Road, Sheerness. He said he has found it hard to come to terms with being given the award as he feels there are lots of other people who are more deserving.
He added: “The kids are the best thing about the job, they are just brilliant, and the parents who have been so supportive over the years. There are lots of people I work with that are better teachers than I am. There are lots of people who do lots of brilliant stuff with the kids – there’s so many. I just happen to have been mentioned. I just love Sheppey, there’s something about it. Ionly wish Sunderland FC played down here – it would make things easier.”
Mr Murray credits his parents with driving him to work hard and go to university and says they are very proud. He added that the award has made him think of the other real heroes, such as Daniel Holkham, the 19-year old rifleman who died, in March in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
He said: “I think he was a real hero, a young lad with such courage, and it’s hard to put yourself in the same category as someone like that.”