A RURAL champion has been awarded the OBE for his services to rural affairs in the Queen?s Birthday Honours List. Prof Michael Winter, 49, professor of rural policy and director of the Centre for Rural Research, at the University of Exeter, was awarded the honour for services to rural affairs, Prof Winter, who lives at Hatherleigh, said he had been surprised to learn he was in line for an honour. ?I suppose there are some people who think about that sort of thing, but I hadn?t really given it much thought until I came home from work one day and found a letter on the table.? Prof Winter was born in Beaworthy, and later lived in Exbourne before moving to Hatherleigh seven years ago. He has always been interested in the countryside way of life, even from an early age. ?I was mad keen on farming as a child and later on did my degree in rural environment studies and have been involved in rural research ever since,? he said. ?I have always been an academic who wishes to do stuff that is practical and useful for rural people, not ivory tower academia.? Prof Winter was one of the driving forces behind the setting up of the Hatherleigh Area Project, and is now its vice-chair, having previously served as chair. He is also a board member of the Countryside Agency, chair of the South West Rural Affairs Forum and chair of the Devon Strategic Partnership Rural Task Group and sits on south-west regional committees for DEFRA, the Environment Agency and CPRE.