A BRIDPORT farmer has been awarded an MBE for his services to the community.

George Streatfeild, aged 69, is among those included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Mr Streatfeild, who served as the High Sheriff of Dorset until March this year, was given the honour for his services to the food industry and the Bridport community.

Mr Streatfeild said: "I was very surprised, but I felt incredibly honoured, really chuffed.

"I received an email from the Cabinet Office and to be honest I wasn't sure if it was serious - it was completely out of the blue and caught me off guard.

"To have been part of the food movement over the last 30 years, moving from eating for fuel to eating for enjoyment and the quality of the food - to be part of that evolution has been a real honour and great fun.

"Bridport is an amazing town so to have been a part of the Bridport community for as long as I have has been fantastic, I'm very privileged.

He added: "It is such a privilege and an honour to have been selected for an MBE."

Mr Streatfeild is an award-winning farmer who has made significant contributions to the West Country food industry.

He became a junior partner of Denhay Farms Ltd and became CEO of the company in 2000. Under his leadership, Denhay Farms have received numerous industry accolades, including more than 25 Great Taste Awards, the Royal Agricultural Society of England Award for Excellence, and a royal appointment as Bacon Curer to Prince Charles.

He was part of the team that founded the Taste of the West in 1991, which has since become the UK's largest independent regional food group.

In 2001, he became Chair of the Food Hall at the highly prestigious Royal Bath and West Show, and has continued to carry out that role each year since.

He co-founded Discover Farming in 2016, an education initiative as part of Melplash Agricultural Society. It is a programme designed to educate children and their parents about food, farming and the environment and to promote careers in the food and agricultural industry.

Since 2014 he has served as Chair of Governors at Symondsbury Church of England School, in which position he has worked to raise standards across the spectrum of primary education. He also chaired the Bridport Museum Trustees from 2012 to 2020.