THE man who led a campaign to save the world's oldest rail bridge has been honoured.
Ted Defty, of Clough Dene, Tantobie, near Stanley, travelled to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and collect the MBE for services to his community.
As chairman of the old Stanley Urban District Council during the 1970s, the former miner helped save Causey Arch, when the bridge was in danger of collapse.
The pensioner, whose three daughters attended the ceremony, said: "It was a wonderful experience. I was honoured and extremely proud."
Mr Defty was Labour party constituency chairman, founded the Hobson Golf Course, near Stanley, and was chairman of Stanley Civic Arts Society for 36 years until the venue became the Lamplight Arts Centre, last year.
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