A radio presenter who was instrumental in launching the Island’s station BRFM has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.

Danny Lawrence will receive the British Empire Medal for services to community radio.

He now lives in Basildon, Essex, where he is a director of the station Gateway 97.8, but came to Sheppey in 2004 as a presenter for Link FM, which was part of a trial for a series of community radio shows.

When that finished, he was involved in the trials for BRFM, based at Oak Lane, Minster, and stayed on to oversee its official launch in 2006.

He has been involved in several different stations during his career.

He is also a director of the Community Media Association as well as deputy mayor of Basildon, a Rotary president and school governor.

He said his time on the Island helped his development in the radio industry and he feels very proud to have been included in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

“This honour I receive is fantastic news,” he said. “I feel very humbled.

“It’s good for community radio that it’s being recognised and I look forward to continuing my work in local radio.”