A FORMER Sellafield safety director has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Roger Coates, who is also the non-executive safety director on LLW Repository Ltd’s Site Licencing Company (SLC) Board, received the accolade in recognition of his services to nuclear safety and radiation protection.

He joined Sellafield's health and safety department in 1975 holding a series of prestigious posts before becoming environment, health and safety director for British Nuclear Group until his retirement in 2006.

He then went on to take a post with the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna, supporting the Iraqi government in the decommissioning of its war-damaged nuclear facilities.

Dennis Thompson, chairman of the SLC Board and managing director of LLW Repository Ltd, said: “I would like to congratulate Roger on this great honour, which recognises the major role he has played in a lifetime of service in the nuclear industry.

“After spending over 30 years with BNFL, he joined the LLW Repository Ltd SLC Board in 2008 and has brought invaluable experience, gained nationally and internationally.

“It was pleasing that we could attract such a renowned figure of his calibre to our Board.

"Safety is of paramount importance in this industry, and we know we can always rely on Roger for insightful advice when required.”

After receiving a degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University in 1968, Dr Coates went on to study for a PhD in physics from Reading University before undertook post-doctoral research at Swansea University.

He lived in Gosforth from 1975-90 and has also served as president of the Society for Radiological Protection in 1995/6 and was vice president for Congress Affairs for the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) in 2012.