THE longest serving member of Cornwall County Council, Gunnislake?s Cllr Godfrey Smale, has been recognised in the Queen?s Birthday Honours list. Cllr Smale, 70, has been awarded the MBE for his services to local government. Cllr Smale has held his seat on the county council for 26 years for the Labour Party ? he is also a member of Caradon District Council and Calstock Parish Council. He said it was a very great honour to receive the award ? and it was one he had ?no inkling? he would ever receive. ?It?s something you don?t think will ever happen to you. I had no inkling until I got the letter ? that came six weeks ago, just before the election,? said Cllr Smale. ?They tell me it will be about three or four months before I receive the award, from the Queen or Prince Charles ? so there?s plenty of time to get a new suit!? Cllr Smale said he had been tempted at times during the last six weeks to tell people about the award. ?But I didn?t fall into temptation in the end,? he said. ?I?ve done all I can and the best I can to serve the people of Calstock parish. I?ve treated them all the same, whatever the issue has been. ?You are working for the community; it?s trying to make local government function as a part of the community and the award was for this service to the community,? he said.