FALMOUTH councillor Gerald Chin-Quee has been awarded the British Empire medal at a special ceremony at Truro’s New County Hall.

Mr Chin-Quee was one of six recipients of the honour from Cornwall, which is awarded for ‘meritorious civil or military service’.

First established in 1922 to replace the Medal of the Order of the British Empire, the British Empire Medal (BEM) was awarded in the UK until 1992.

The honour was then re-introduced in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations when it was awarded to 293 people from across the UK in The Queen’s Birthday Honours on 16 June. As well as receiving their award from the Lord Lieutenant, everyone receiving a BEM also has the opportunity to attend one of Her Majesty’s Buckingham Palace Garden Parties.

Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE presented the medals.

He said: “This award is designed to recognise and celebrate the dedication and hard work provided by local volunteers who make a real difference to their communities. “All six of today’s medallists are worthy recipients and I am honoured to have the opportunity to mark their commitment to others and thank them on behalf of the people of Cornwall”.