A PROUD council leader has been presented with an OBE at Buckingham Palace.

Neil Stock, who has served as leader of Tendring Council on two occasions, was awarded the gong on Friday by Prince Charles after being listed for an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Mr Stock, from Little Bromley, served as leader of the authority from 2009 to October 2012 and again took charge in 2015.

He was granted the honour for services to local government.

“It was an amazing experience – the whole visit to the palace was quite awe-inspiring,” said Mr Stock.

“My daughter asked me the night before if I was nervous, but it hadn’t really occurred to me up until that point.

“But on the day I was so nervous, I wasn’t sure I would even be able to walk straight.

“It is a fantastic building and the staff were very polite and efficient. We were made to feel very welcome.

“It was great to meet a whole raft of people from senior military officers to a 15-year-old Paralympic swimmer.

“There was a fantastic mix of people there.

“My citation said the OBE is for services to local government and the Prince of Wales asked me how long I had been a councillor and whether I was planning to carry on.

“He put me at ease and he came across as really charming.

“I felt incredibly proud and honoured to be presented with the medal.”

Alongside his work as the council leader, Mr Stock runs his own business, Harlequin, based in Little Bromley.

The company has designed fabrics, belts and bags for the Royal family and hit television shows such as Downton Abbey and The Crown.