FOR 36 years Colin Hutchings has been managing communications for the Dartmoor Detachment of the 243 Signal Squadron based at Okehampton Camp and his loyalty and devotion has been rewarded with the Imperial Service Medal.

Mr Hutchings is unusual in that as a civilian employee of the army he has also received two commendations from the Commander-In-Chief during his time at the camp, one of which was for the rescue of 40 Ten Tors competitors on the moor in 1987.

The Imperial Service Medal from the Queen was presented to Mr Hutchings by Major Mike Cartwright of 43 Wessex Brigade at a special ceremony at Simmons Park Bowling Club in Okehampton.

The recipient said he was proud to receive the medal but he considered himself very lucky to have worked with such great people.

'I have served under 12 commanding officers but each one has been good to work for and I have enjoyed the job,' he said.

Mr Hutchings' father was a range warden on Dartmoor and it was he who informed the electrician that there was a job going back in 1964.

'I was working for an electrical firm in Okehampton at the time but I was attracted to the job with the army because the prospects were good,' he said.

The Dartmoor Detachment provides telephone and cable communications over the military ranges throughout the South West and one of Mr Hutchings' duties each year was to organise communications for the Ten Tors challenge.

His professional flair and competence, enthusiasm and dedication was highlighted by the army when he received a commendation for loyal service in 1994.

Seven years earlier, during a Ten Tors expedition, the electrician and his colleague Ray Jones were called out to the moor to repair a communications fault when they became involved in the rescue of 40 young people who found themselves lost during foul weather.

The two men escorted the youngsters five miles in grim conditions and looking back on it Mr Hutchings said they, including himself, were all very lucky.

'I remember we could not see ten yards in front of us,' he said. 'But knowing the Northern moor very well it helped.'

A great supporter of Ten Tors, Mr Hutchings said he hoped the challenge and the military presence on Dartmoor would continue for years to come, despite conservationists' views that the army should move from Dartmoor.

'I believe there is room for everyone on Dartmoor,' he said.