Thriplow villager David Easthope received a BEM in the King's Birthday Honours for services to the community - following in his wife's footsteps.

David, 84, has been a parish councillor for over 50 years, a district councillor for 12 years, and was chair of the parish council for seven years.

As an architect, he has represented the parish council on various planning processes, and is a member and former chairman of the village hall committee.

One of David's main success stories is the village shop, which he saved from closure and became the first chair of the Thriplow Village Shop Association.

When the main wholesaler discontinued deliveries to small businesses David stepped in and collected supplies himself from a Cambridge wholesaler.

David is also chair of the Thriplow Society, and has used his professional expertise as an architect to advise on the 'smithy', Thriplow's working blacksmith's forge.

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Over the years, he has been involved in the Round Table and the Rotary.

David said he was "pleased" to receive the BEM, adding: "I am involved in a good deal of things that go on."

His wife Pat, who received a BEM for services to the community in the 2016 New Year Honours, said: "We’ve both got one now which is rather lovely."