Shropshire Star

Ex-Shropshire man in MBE for diversity work in Arab world

A former Shropshire resident, who now works for Outward Bound in Oman, is in line to receive an MBE for his work promoting cultural diversity in the Arab world.

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A former Shropshire resident, who now works for Outward Bound in Oman, is in line to receive an MBE for his work promoting cultural diversity in the Arab world.

Mark Evans, 50, grew up in Pontesbury and went to school there and in Shrewsbury before becoming a teacher.

He now lives in Muscat, Oman, where he is the general manager for Outward Bound Oman.

He set up a group called Connecting Cultures to bring young people from all over the world together to learn from each other.

Mr Evans will return to Britain later this year to receive his MBE at a Buckingham Palace ceremony, although no date has yet been set.

His mother Audrey Evans, who still lives in Pontesbury, has today spoken of her pride at his achievements.

She said: "The MBE is for services to cultural diversity for promoting understanding between people in the Arab and Western world.

"He was a teacher for 21 years and he founded Connecting Cultures in 2004.

"Instead of teaching in a classroom young people are taught outside in the desert.

"They take groups of young people from all over the world and take them out to where there is no mobile signal or TV or anything from the modern world.

"They then sit around and discuss the culture of their various countries."

Mr Evans went to Pontesbury Primary School as a child and the Priory School for Boys before leaving Shropshire to teach in the Middle East.

In his spare time he has led expeditions in the Arctic and Greenland and written several books.

Mrs Evans said: "He's led a really interesting life and I am very proud of him," she said.

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