A RAWDON man has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to horticulture.

Phil Gomersall said he was “very proud” to receive the medal from the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson at Bowcliffe Hall in Bramham.

He said: “There were 13 other BEM and one OBE recipients at the awards ceremony. In attendance also were ten Deputy Lieutenants including, Sir Gary Verity, and the Vice Lord Lieutenant. A very pleasant ceremony it was too.”

Mr Gomersall 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 and he is the Vice Chairman of Rawdon in Bloom.