A community champion from Norden has been recognised by royalty for decades of dedication to Rochdale, receiving an MBE from the Prince of Wales in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
It was a moment of pride for Paul Ellison, former Rochdale Man of the Year, as he received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) from Prince William on Tuesday 30 September at Windsor Castle.
The honour recognises Paul’s exceptional contributions to the community, with over three decades of volunteering and environmental work that began when he was just a boy. Introduced to volunteering by Rochdale Groundwork Trust, Paul has since helped transform neighbourhoods, green spaces, and civic pride across the borough.
Now a well-known landscape gardener, Paul is a driving force behind Rochdale’s repeated success in the RHS In Bloom awards and has led numerous anti-fly-tipping campaigns. As a Keep Britain Tidy Ambassador, he has organised events such as “Rochdale’s Got Talent” during the Covid lockdown, raising funds for Springhill Hospice and other local causes.
Surrounded by family during his investiture at the royal residence, Paul spoke warmly of his encounter with Prince William, saying: “His Royal Highness spoke enthusiastically about the impact volunteering has on people and places, and discussed his own plans to get more people involved. I’m proud to be from Rochdale, we are blessed with wonderful people and strong communities, and I’ve been lucky to be able to play my part in making it a better place.”
Paul is now enjoying a short family trip to London before returning home, where he intends to continue his community work.
Well done Paul!
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