AN AUTHOR, historian and fundraiser with a love of the Isle of Wight has received his MBE from The Queen.

Ken Hicks, 84, became a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to the Island community.

He was honoured to receive his medal at Buckingham Palace in November, accompanied by his wife Deirdre and two of his grandchildren, Aisling and Alexander Hicks.

Mr Hicks, of Bembridge, felt it was particularly poignant that it was 62 years since receiving his first medal, the Suez Campaign Medal, in 1956.

Since 1970, Mr Hicks has been involved in the Isle of Wight Historical Association, serving as chair from 2003 to 2008, before becoming life president from 2016.

He also ran some popular fundraising events to raise money for various causes, and raised £40,000 to support archaeological digs at the Brading Roman Villa.

His passion for history and fundraising has made a huge impact to the Island community and he has recently raised £13,000 for Mountbatten through sales of his limited edition book An Island Legacy.