A STALWART of a community organisation has received a national award in recognition of his years of service.

Marcus Grover, vice chairman of Northallerton and District Round Table, has been a member of the fundraising group since 1987.

In that time, he has represented Round Table Britain and Ireland across the world, as well as looking after members of the organisation from overseas.

He organised an international appeal that helped Round Table in Zimbabwe to set up orphanages and schools.

Last year, when a major fire closed the Majestic Hotel, in Harrogate, Mr Grover faced a race against time to reorganise a Round Table conference that was due to be held there.

It went ahead on time, after a scramble to source new venues and 160 hotel rooms for delegates.

John Kilshaw was the President of Round Table’s 600 clubs at the time of the Harrogate fire.

He said: “Our big conference of the year is very important to us.

“It is the end of our year where, when the new teams take over.

“After the fire, Marcus achieved the impossible in finding enough bedrooms and all the venues we needed, it was amazing.

“Even though it was very difficult, there was no way he was going to let his hard work end up with the conference and biggest party of the year being cancelled.”

Mr Grover was recently presented with the Round Table Medal, one of the organisations highest honurs.

For more information about the organisation, visit roundtable.co.uk