A man was honoured for his services to the borough at a special ceremony last week.

Roy Berry, from Epsom was given the award by the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor Sheila Carlson, at this year’s civic reception on Friday, March 2.

Mr Berry has campaigned tirelessly over the years for a variety of projects including a memorial outside the old Horton Hospital cemetery with the help of former mayor, Alan Carlson.

Thousands of ex-servicemen and patients were brought to Horton War Hospital during World War One and Two, many suffering from post traumatic stress, and over 8,000 people were buried there.

However when the site was sold to a private developer the cemetery become unrecognisable and Mr Berry began campaigning for a memorial to commemorate the site which was funded by public donations.

Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor Sheila Carlson, said: "It was Roy who told us all about the people who were buried there and the fact there were ex-servicemen in the graves. We decided that we needed a memorial to commemorate it. With no gravestones there was nothing there to say that it was a cemetery."

She remembered that as chairman of the Court Ward Community Partnership Mr Berry made an impassioned speech which led to the eventual demolition of The Sefton Arms, widely considered an eyesore.

And as a member of the residents group consulted on the old hospital site in Horton he helped contribute to its eventual redevelopment which included 12,000 homes.

Coun Carlson added: "I don’t think there is anybody who has received the award that doesn’t deserve it. Many of them are quite high profile, but there are others who beaver away quietly that nobody really knows. That’s why I picked Roy. He has done so much for Court Ward and Longmead and it was because of this that I felt he deserved it."

She added: "I think the term of the award is exactly right for Roy. It’s an active citizen award - for somebody who is in their community and has the welfare and the desire of the community at heart."

Mr Berry received a certificate, medal and will have his name inscribed on a plaque at the town hall.

The award was set up by former Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Eber Kington, 12 years ago and it has since become a tradition to present it at the year’s annual civic reception.