A SOUTH Cumbria resident has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to charity.

Charles Godwin, of Cartmel, was officially recognised by Her Majesty The Queen in her New Years Honours list.

Mr Godwin attended Buckingham Palace today (Friday) and the the Prince of Wales presented him with the MBE award.

The retired chartered accountant, who is a former partner of the firm PriceWaterhouseCooper, runs the Charles Godwin Charitable Trust - a charity he set up using his own funds 20 years ago to help support local organisations, groups and organisations. Aided by his wife Bunty, Mr Godwin has granted close to £250,000 through the trust to recipients including Barrow Society for the Blind, Cark village playground, Cartmel Cubs, Cartmel Primary School library, for public access defibrillators in Cartmel and Grange, the Starlight Children's Foundation and Happy Days, St Mary's Hospice and the local branch of Combat Stress.