A FORMER Tavistock man, who recently returned to the town, has been awarded the CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Rama Warren Nand-Lal, 59, lived in Tavistock in the 1970s and 1980s when his three sons, Tim, Andrew and Simon, attended Tavistock College.

Six months ago, he retired and moved back to West Devon with his wife, Pauline.

Mr Nand-Lal was awarded the honour for services to further education and training, mainly for work carried out in Wiltshire.

Before retiring, he was a former chairman of governors of Swindon College. It was during Mr Nand-Lal's chairmanship that college principal, Clive Brian, died in the Southall rail crash in 1998.

The governor found himself in an important supportive role helping the staff through the traumatic time.

He is still chairman of Great Western Enterprise, a non-profit organisation which helps small businesses and was a founder member of the Further Education Development Agency.

Until April last year, Mr Nand-Lal was a member of the board of the Wiltshire Training and Enterprise Council and until two years ago a director of Administration Resources and Marketing, Cranfield University (RMCS).

When living in West Devon in the 1970s, Mr Nand-Lal was the first registrar of Plymouth College of Further Education before taking over as bursar at Plymouth's Marjon.

A sportsman and golfer with a ten handicap, he has become the new chairman of Yelverton Cricket Club.