A RAWDON man has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Her Majesty the Queen graciously approved that Philip Gomersall, of Rawdon be awarded the medal for services to Horticulture in Yorkshire.

Phil has many roles in the allotment world from President of the National Allotment Society, Chairman of the Yorkshire Allotment Gardeners Federation, Publicity Officer of the Leeds Allotments Federation and Secretary of Victory Garden Allotments Association, Rawdon.

He has promoted and advised on the many benefits that allotment gardening has to offer, over many years, and is a very hard working hands on and quite jovial kind of person.

He was instrumental in the creation of many allotment show gardens at the Harrogate Flower Shows, Great Yorkshire Show and even Chelsea.

In addition to the above he is the Vice Chairman of Rawdon in Bloom and was out this weekend doing summer planting in some of the planters he made for Rawdon in Bloom, along the A65.The group has made a vast difference to the environment of Rawdon and has received much praise since starting up a few years back.