A TRAVEL entrepreneur has been appointed MBE in the New Year's Honours list for services to the community and the environment.
Dr Mel Mehmet, of Vincent Lane, Dorking, was recognised for his work with easitNETWORK, a business he set up in Mole Valley eight years ago to tackle traffic and congestion problems. He told the Advertiser he had originally mistaken the notification letter for a tax bill, as it was marked Cabinet Office.
"It plonked through the letterbox and when I saw where it had come from I didn't want to open it," he said.
"My wife said just to see what it was so I opened it and I was in complete shock. I was so excited but even then I was suspicious that it wasn't real.
"It was asking me if I would accept the title, as if I would tell the Queen, 'No thanks'. I spoke to one of the girls at the office and she told me someone had rung up for my details, so I quickly came round to the idea that it was all real. I'm still in disbelief."
Dr Mehmet's business, which is based in Holmesdale Road, North Holmwood, offers sustainable transport solutions to its clients, including discounts on public transport, car-sharing schemes and bicycle loans.
The company has grown to represent 250,000 commuters across five counties and has been hailed as a best business practice by the Department for Transport.
Its success led to easitNETWORK being named a High Achiever at the Green Business Awards this year, and receiving the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011.
Dr Mehmet said: "I am incredibly proud to receive this honour. I could never have dreamt that an idea first discussed in a Dorking coffee shop some eight years ago would lead me down this path.
"We are a small company of only three people, and when we won the Queen's Award one of the ladies at the Palace said we were the smallest ever to win it.
"She was enthusing about our ethos and our way of doing things and said she was going to help us out. I guess this is what she meant."
Shere resident Howard Potter, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of his service to the village.
Mr Potter, of Gomshall Lane, holds the posts of treasurer at St James' Church, governor at Shere C of E Aided Infant School and treasurer of the village hall committee.
