A GREAT Harwood man has been honoured for his work in the community.

Alan Whalley was given the Ruby Award in a spec-ial presentation, held at the council’s mayor-making ceremony, ‘in recognition of his outstanding service to the community’.

The 82-year-old Commun- ity Action Group (CAG) stalwart said: “It was very nice to receive this award, especially because it was the mayoral ceremony.

“I had the good luck of being the first of seven rec- ipients to get it.

“My wife Kathleen was there, as were my two dau-ghters, Fiona and Kathryn, and their partners, and my 14-year-old granddaughter Isabelle.

“It was a proud moment for all of us, and I feel very warm about it.”

The Ruby Award was laun- ched to celebrate 40 years of the council.

Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “We are delighted that Alan receiv-ed the inaugural Ruby Award, in recognition of his exceptional contrib-ution to his local communities and the differ-ence he’s made to Great Harw-ood through his voluntary work.

“Alan is a great example of the many people we are so lucky to have in Hyn-dburn, who give their time and energy so freely to make where they live a better place.”

Alan, who is member of Great Harwood and Rish- ton Rotary Club, has been a governor at Nord- en High School, and act-ed as adviser to the Nord-en Young Enterprise companies.

His nomin-ation said: “His vision to bring all the town’s volun-tary, community and faith groups together to provide a platform, where inform-ation could be shared and cascaded, has stood the test since CAG’s inception in 2003.

“Alan has been involved with the development of the Millennium Garden at Churchfield House, with the Civic Society and Hyn-dburn Council, and also Great Harwood in Bloom, The Best Garden Comp-etition, and the creation of the Star Delph Nature Res-erve.”

The Ruby Award is set to be awarded to people from several towns across Hyn-dburn at council meetings throughout 2014 and 2015.

Nominations for the aw-ard can be submitted to councillors in Church, Clay- ton-le-Moors, Great Har-wood, Oswaldtwistle, Rish-ton, Accrington, and Alth- am.