MBE recipient Richard Thorne from Mary Tavy said he was 'deeply honoured' this week for being recognised for his services to search and rescue on Dartmoor.

Mr Thorne, 67, has been an active member of the Plymouth section of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team for 41 years. He was nominated for the honour by his team-mates for his enthusiasm and commitment.

'I feel very proud for myself and the Dartmoor Rescue Group because this reflects on both of us,' said Mr Thorne.

'It came as a complete surprise and I feel deeply honoured. For my colleagues to think me worthy of this is tremendous.'

Mr Thorne joined search and rescue on Dartmoor at the age of 25. At that time it was a new organisation and he was sure he wanted to be part of it.

'I came down from London at 21 and used to do a lot of cycling so I liked the outdoors,' he said. 'With the moors on my doopstep I started walking and heard about the rescue group. I thought I might have a skill that could be useful to them. They accepted me and I never looked back.'

The MBE recipient, who has also been involved on the Dartmoor Rescue Group Committee as treasurer, leader of the Plymouth team, and helicopter liasion with RAF Chivenor and RNAS Culdrose, said the highlight of his time was in 1981 when five air cadets were rescued off the moor after being lost in a blizzard.

'All four teams, that's over 100 members, were looking for them,' he said. 'We were out there for 36 hours but the air cadets were found safe and well on the northern side of the moor.

'It was one of the toughest rescues I have been involved with.'

Having had his own engraving firm in Plymouth for 20 years, Mr Thorne is now retired but will be continuing his volunteering role 'as long as both legs can move forward in the same direction'.

As a search manager, he now co-ordinates rescues: 'The youngsters can move a lot faster than me but I am still out there on the moor, in a big Ford Transit, set up with radios, maps and liaising with team members on the ground.

'We all have a skill or an expertise that we can put to good use, be it in the water or with ropes or whatever. The Dartmoor Search and Rescue team really is a tremendous organisation. Members are out there in all weathers and on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and I am still as enthusiastic about it as the day I joined.'

l Also awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List was Ian Dingle for services to the community in Plymouth and Tavistock.