COMMUNITY campaigner Alan Nix has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours with an MBE for his charitable work in the town.

Alan, 79, has been instrumental in a series of projects, including a mobile drugs education service in schools and is a leading light in the Lawn Community Centre.

He will formally receive his honour in the next five months.

"It is quite a job to keep it quiet and not tell anybody," he said. "I got the letter in the strictest confidence, but I told my daughter, my son, and my wife, of course.

"The rotary club, the local authority and the hospital, as well as lots of different agencies, have been more involved, and I am getting the recognition they deserve.

"I came up with these old ideas and they made it work."

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: "Alan has done a huge amount of work to help get Lawn Community Centre, but is at pains to point out it is not just him, it is the whole team there who have done so much to make it a great community asset.

"That is the mark of the man I think, and I am very pleased and proud he has been honoured."