A FORMER Queen's guard from Leyland has been honoured by the British Horse Society after nearly half-of-a-century of voluntary work.

Ex-Household Cavalry (Life Guards) serviceman John Holt, 66, of West Paddock, Leyland, is the first person ever to receive the British Riding Club (BRC) Honorary Life Vice President award for his dedication to riding clubs in the past 40 years.

John received his engraved tray award from the president of the British Horse Society, The Princess Royal, at the organisation's annual general meeting last week.

He said: "I was not expecting it at all. It was a nice surprise and I'm very pleased." As a former queen's escort John has taken part in dozens of royal events involving horses from trooping the colour to the changing of the guard. Since joining the Leyland-based Longton Riding Club in 1956, John has been dedicated to serving horse and riding groups and was elected to the committee four years later.

After the Ulnes Walton Lane riding club became affiliated to the British Horse Society (BHS) in 1964, John went onto become the vice chairman of the Area 3 (North West) Liaison Committee in 1977.

It was a post he held until his semi-retirement from riding club activities two years ago -- although he remains an active member at Longton Riding Club where he is chairman.

Secretary of Longton Riding Club Anne Strangeway said: "John has given us a lot of advise and support and he thoroughly deserves this award."

His involvement with riding clubs at national level began in 1982 after he was elected to sit on the Riding Clubs' executive committee where he welcomed a new and improved relationship between the BHS and the riding clubs. He even wrote to all affiliated clubs recommending they stay within the society.

John retired two years ago, both as chairman of the BRC and from the executive committee, although he is still involved with the Rural Riders European Championships and remains active in Longton Riding Club as its chairman.

A BRC spokesman said: "John is one of those invaluable volunteers who make an organisation like BRC what it is. The riding clubs family is extremely fond of him and grateful for his 40 years of hardwork on their behalf.

"We can think of nothing more fitting than to recognise this officially and are delighted to make John the very first British Riding Clubs Life Vice President."

He was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.