Former Councillor Godfrey Davis helped make history on November 11th. He received his MBE from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle, the first time it has been used for an investiture.

Mr Davis' MBE was a reward for his services as chairman of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority, and as a former Herefordshire Councillor, it was announced among Her Majesty's Birthday Honours.

He told The Ross Gazette he was very happy that HM the Queen carried out the investiture: "The icing on the cake was it taking place at Windsor Castle and having my wife, Marian, and my two daughters, Sally and Beverley, along.

"Her Majesty asked me if I was doing anything now as she pinned on my Medal. I said 'Not so much Your Majesty, of course I am over 80 now'. When the Queen left the hall she was escorted by two Beefeaters and two Gurkhas."

Mr Davis and his family spent about three hours in Windsor Castle and during that time they joined everyone else to observe the two minutes silence at 11am. He said on their way to the hall they went through a dining-hall with a table that was about 40 yards long. Among the 84 people receiving medals was the former English Rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio, and the Chief Fire Officer from Gloucester, Terry Standing.

Mr Davis, who was Chairman of the Fire Authority for ten years, and vice Chairman for two, will be fondly remembered for his role as Ross Town Crier, as well as his 16 years of local government service.

For 25 years Mr Davis served as a special policeman in Ross and for six years he was a retained fire fighter for Upton Bishop. Marian used to work at the Ross Tourist Office. Sally and her husband and two sons live in Aberdeen, and Beverley and her husband live in Worcester.