A SOLDIER has been honoured with an MBE in recognition of his charity work while stationed in York.

Lt Col Ade Clewlow commanded the Gurkha Signal Squadron at Imphal Barracks for two years between August 2003 and December 2005.

During that time, he raised more than £35,000 for charity.

Speaking about his honour, he said: "I was absolutely delighted.

"I was pleased because it's nice that someone took the time to recognise it.

"Fundraising events don't just happen - someone has to sit down and spend time organising them.

"My soldiers and officers all believed in me and got involved.

"Because so many people were involved in what we were doing, it's very good news for the squadron and a recognition of the important role that the Gurkhas play in York."

Lt Col Clewlow spent four months in Nepal at the beginning of 2004.

When he returned to York he campaigned for 12 Gurkha veterans to be flown to the UK to attend the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in 2004.

After raising £18,000 to bring the men over, he continued fundraising for a variety of causes.

In June 2004, he auctioned photographs from his time in Nepal at the Slug And Lettuce, in Swinegate, York. The following June he put on another exhibition of photographs from his July 2004 tour of duty in Iraq.

The exhibitions netted money for Jessie's Fund, the York-based charity which brings music into the lives of seriously ill and disabled children all over Britain by providing music therapy.

In July 2005, he organised the Race The Sun event, which drew military personnel from all over the country to take part in a 15-stage relay race over 182 miles of North Yorkshire roads, forests, lakes and rivers.

The soldiers donated nearly £10,000 to St Leonard's Hospice, the York Hospitals NHS Trust Child Development Centre, the York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation and the Army Benevolent Fund.

Lt Col Clewlow was promoted in August last year, and is now chief instructor of command and operator training for the Royal Signals at the defence college of communication and information systems, which is based at Blandford, Dorset.