A LONG-STANDING stalwart of the Copeland community has received his MBE from Prince William.

Norman Clarkson, from Calderbridge, near Seascale, received the honour for his long and effective service to the county, working to improve people’s lives through sport and theatre, and by raising money as a long-standing member of the St Bees lifeboat crew.

Mr Clarkson said: “I’ve not got it for myself, it’s through working together, it’s the best way to work, I’ve always tried to do that, in my political career too.”

Until 2013, he was chair of the Adams recreation ground at St Bees, raising £250,000 to build a new sports pavillion. As a former Mayor of Copeland, he highlighted the work of the Young Carers Organisation and has been chair of Cumbria County Council, twice president of Egremont Rotary Club and chair of the Copeland Conservative Association.

Last Thursday he visited the Palace to receive his medal from HRH the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Clarkson, who was accompanied by his wife Yvonne and his son Marcus and daughter Helen Reid, told The Whitehaven News: "On arriving I was ushered into an ante-room off the ballroom where all the recipients mixed and talked, enquiring from each other why we had been singled out to receive our respective awards.

"Two people who stood out among us were Richard Stanton, who was awarded the George Medal for great courage in rescuing those trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. He was a most unassuming person who felt he had to take the risk because he could not stand back whilst people drowned, hence he coordinated and led the successful rescue.

"A second gentleman was Professor Sir Melvyn Greaves who was made a Knight Bachelor for his services to childhood leukaemia research.

"I felt very humbled to be in the presence of these and many others who were receiving awards that day."