“I AM honoured, delighted, and proud” – these are the words of an ex-chief officer of a Norton charity, who received an MBE for his services to Ryedale.

Ken Gill, who lives in Pocklington, was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours.

The 65-year-old was the chief officer of Ryedale Community Transport (RCT), before he retired from the role last year (2022).

Ken said he was notified that he had won the award weeks prior to it being made public.

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After receiving an email from the cabinet office, he explained how he was “sceptical to open it at first” – in disbelief that it was real.

Following some investigating, however, he deemed that it was indeed true.

“What a great honour (the MBE is) for doing my best at work,” Ken said.

RCT provide affordable, rural transport solutions for people who are disadvantaged because of physical or mental disability, geographically isolated or through deprivation and poverty.

Ken served in the police for 30 years and retired in Scarborough.

He first started volunteering with RCT in 2006 and worked his way up to chief officer.

Ken said it was an “amazing job” to help people in the community.

“I have always said living in Yorkshire is a wonderful place to be,” he added.

“But if you do live in a rural area and do loose the use of a car it becomes difficult.”

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Since retiring, Ken said he has enjoyed “gallivanting” in his motorhome with his wife Diana.

They spent Christmas in Winchester and are now planning a month-long trip to Germany in March.

Ken joked that he has had to turn his organisation skills obtained working with the charity, to planning trips away in retirement.