Two Gravesend men have been named in the New Year’s Honours list for ground-breaking community work.

Baljinder Singh Rana and Pirthipal Singh Kang are set to receive British Empire Medals for achievements made in entirely different fields - football and fire safety - but which both reflect Gravesend’s status as a heartland for cross-cultural progression.

Mr Rana, 52, has been a member of Guru Nanak Football Club since he was 15 years old, undertaking every role from player to manager, coach to chairman, in the Sikh faith club which is renowned for bringing together players from all backgrounds.

Known as Tony, he has spent the last four years transferring the knowledge learnt at Guru Nanak FC to the whole county through the Kent Equality Group, set up by the Kent County Football Association in 2012.

Now chairman of the group, he is proud of its achievements, but says it was still a surprise to find out he had been awarded a BEM for services to football and inclusion in Kent.

“Three weeks ago I got a letter through the post via the FA,” he said. “I thought it was a prank, but I filled it in and sent it back thinking I’ll play along.

“A week and a half ago I got a phone call from the Cabinet Office and I thought ‘ok, it’s not a joke.’

“I was amazed and shocked.”

He said Kent was now renowned for being progressive compared to other counties, adding: “The FA have taken on a few of our procedures and changes. Back in 2012 we didn’t have a way of reporting a racist or discriminatory offence, so a lot went unreported.

“Now people can go on the KCFA web page and there’s a phone number to ring.

“Four years ago if there was an incident the FA struggled to deal with it. Now we’ve made it so they go through the normal disciplinary process.”

Fellow award winner and Gravesend man Pirthipal Singh Kang, 57, will receive the BEM for ‘services to fire and rescue awareness and community cohesion.’

For over 30 years he has worked for Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) as a Community Liaison and Partnership Manager (CLPM), a position set up to aid understanding and tackle common issues created by cultural differences and language barriers.

Working as CLPM since 1985, he has introduced a number of campaigns and initiatives, improved fire safety standards in Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, and even produced a colouring book which gives basic fire safety tips to non-English speakers.

He also runs fire safety events at schools, job centres, mosques and gurdwaras to raise awareness of fire and safety, has been an active member of the rotary club for more than 12 years, and has volunteered as part of the management committee for the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara since 1983.

KFRS chief executive Ann Millington, who herself has been awarded with the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in this round of honours, said: “We are delighted that Mr Kang is receiving the BEM in recognition of his work for Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

"He has made a significant contribution to community cohesion and support to people in north Kent. We all offer him our warmest congratulations.”

Barbara Walsh, from Gravesend, has been made an MBE. Formerly a case officer with the Honours and Appointments Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, she has been recognised for services to Public Administration and to the community in Kent.