Guisborough soldier, WO Phillip Hayes, rubbed shoulders with celebrities when he received an MBE from the Prince of Wales.
Well-known names such as Harry Potter author J K Rowling were at the ceremony at Buckingham Palace at which WO Hayes was honoured for outstanding service during 17 years in the Territorial Army. He described the occasion as unforgettable.
"We got the red carpet treatment from word go," he said.
WO Hayes has been praised for building up the Green Howards detachment at Guisborough.
From taking command in 1993, he increased the strength to 80 soldiers and after a TA reorganisation, went on to establish a new detachment from scratch at Coulby Newham.
No stranger to awards, he has also been praised for attracting publicity for the TA and spearheading fundraising schemes.
His citation said: "His selfless and exceptional contribution has achieved far more than could ever have been expected of him."
WO Hayes is married with two children and works at the Hollis VC Armoury at Coulby Newham.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article