A DEDICATED charity stalwart and former High Sheriff of Essex has been honoured.

George Courtauld was honoured for his services to the community and was awarded his OBE by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List.

Mr Courtauld, 79, of Knights Barn, Colne Engaine, has worked with a string of charities including the Essex Women’s Advisory Group as well as serving as Deputy Lieutenant and Vice Lord Lieutenant for Essex.

In the past he has chaired a number of charities including the Haven Gateway Partnership, the Essex board of the Prince’s Trust, Essex Environment Trust and the Essex Rural Community Council.

He is the president of the League of Friends of Halstead Hospital and the Halstead Allotment Holders and Leisure Gardeners Association.

He said: “As we arrived we were all ushered into a magnificent room which was covered in historic photos, furniture and guilds.

“Finally we were shown into the Great Hall, and told to wait, I believe there was about 79 of us receiving honours.

“We were informed to wait until our name was called, then I had to walk forward and nod to Prince Charles.

“After he hangs the medal, he takes a minute to talk to each recipient and he thanked me for my work with the Princes Trust which means a lot.

“Luckily I have been to the palace a few times before, but I had the opportunity to see a few rooms I have never been in before that were impressive.

“I had the chance to speak to the fellow recipients who were all amazing. Each and everyone had a phenomenal story.

“The whole experience was novel in many ways and hugely interesting.”

Mr Courtauld, who has two sons, two daughters, two foster children and 11 grandchildren, is an avid writer and has had six books published including, most recently, An Alphabet of Awful Animals for Adults for grandparents to read to their grandchildren.