Seend stalwart Peter Fisher has picked up the MBE he was awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours from Wiltshire Lord Lieutenant Sarah Troughton.

Due to ill health, Mr Fisher, 85, had been unable to go to Buckingham Palace to receive his honour from the Queen, so it was arranged for him to be presented with it closer to home, at Seend Community Centre.

Mr Fisher, a former managing director of Avon Rubber, has been involved in village activities since he was recruited to design, build and light the village’s beacon for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.

Since then, he has been instrumental in saving what was then Seend Social Club – now the community centre – from being sold to pay off its debts and the Women’s Institute hall from demolition, after he found there was a covenant on the building.

Mr Fisher said he had mixed feelings when he received the letter informing him of the honour.

He said: “At first, I was overwhelmed by the honour, particularly in the Queen’s jubilee year.

“But, on reflection, I was somewhat bewildered, in light of the number of people in this community who do so much. Why should it be me?

“Seend is a remarkable village, with a remarkable community spirit, and this honour reflects on what the community does.”