ONE of the county s leading vegetable producers has been recognised for his achievements in the Queen s birthday honours with an MBE. Soham man Clem Tompsett, 71, was honoured for his former role as chairman of the British Carrot Growers Association and

ONE of the county's leading vegetable producers has been recognised for his achievements in the Queen's birthday honours with an MBE.

Soham man Clem Tompsett, 71, was honoured for his former role as chairman of the British Carrot Growers' Association and his work on behalf of a number of charities and local sporting organisations.

Mr Tompsett, who has lived in Soham for all of his life, started farming 50 years ago on 79 acres of land and is now managing director of the award-winning Tompsett Burgess Growers.

"At first, I was very shocked," Mr Tompsett said.

"I'm very honoured to receive the MBE, but I had to sit down in a chair for five minutes to work out what I was doing."

Mr Tompsett will find out over the next few weeks when he will collect his MBE, but it will not be the first time he has visited Buckingham Palace; he attended a garden party last year as one of the longest-serving district commissioners of the Pony Club. He has been DC of Soham and District Pony Club for 28 years.

Mr Tompsett's work as chairman of the British Carrot Growers saw him travel all over the country, including trips to Whitehall.

"I had a very exciting time for 11 years," he said.

"But they have a very good chairman now."

Mr Tompsett's work in organising the Isleham Horse Trials, the first British event of the season, has been recognised, as well as extensive fund-raising work and donations to Macmillan Nurses, Papworth Hospital and Riding for the Disabled, among others.

"We are very proud of him," said daughter Jackie Seddon.

"He deserves the award because he has put a lot of work in.