Salisbury forest ranger is recognised in Queen's Birthday honours
Colin Elford's worked for Forestry England for three decades
Last updated 12th Jun 2021
A forest ranger from Salisbury says being awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List is great recognition of his more than three decades of service.
65-year-old Colin Elford retires from his role with Forestry England this summer, but he's today (Saturday 12th June) been recognised amongst the list of the great and good in local communities up and down the country.
Colin tells us he was quite surprised to receive the honour: "I had an email, then after the email someone from the Cabinet Office rang me up. "I haven't told anybody, just kept it quiet. It's a bit surreal really I've been picked out.
"I'm grateful for having this, someone having put my name forward.
"It's a nice end to a career for me, it's nice to know someone's noticed it.
"I like to think the forest is a better place now, the next person who steps into my shoes I hope he or she can improve the forest as well, for the benefit of the wildlife, that's what I'm thinking of all the time."