A DEDICATED charity champion who has spent decades supporting good causes in Colchester has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

Matthew Swan has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the honours list, which recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across Britain.

Mr Swan has been involved with various charities for more than two decades and now serves as chair of the board at Colchester-based charity MS-UK, which supports people with the degenerative condition across the country.

He first joined the board of MS-UK in 2017 and has run the London Marathon for the charity in the past.

Mr Swan is also an active member and previous treasurer of Colchester Rotary Club, which raises thousands of pounds for good causes every year.

For eight years he served as a trustee on the board of Colchester’s famous Mercury Theatre and is also on the board of London-based charity Attend.

The 52-year-old said he couldn’t quite believe it when he received the news he was going to receive the honour and initially thought it was a hoax.

He said: “Initially when I saw the email come in to my inbox I thought it was a scam.

“It said open the attachment and I was wary of doing so at first.

“I was obviously very honoured but very humbled as well.

“It has been such a tough year for everyone and so many people have done so much.

“It almost made me think ‘why me?’ because there are so many people who could have been recognised this year.

“But I am really really pleased and surprised too.”

Mr Swan, who works as a commercial manager for Natwest bank, was first inspired to get involved with charity after his 30th birthday.

He said: “I decided I wanted to get involved helping out charities to support my community.

“I used to get involved with a lot of things through work and I thought I could branch out to do more.

“Time was very difficult to find back then but I though it was important to give something back.

“I am now 52 so I’ve been doing it for more than 20 years.”

Mr Swan, who lives near North Station in Colchester, has officially been awarded his British Empire Medal “for voluntary service to charitable organisations”.

He is one of dozens of recipients of honours from across Essex, including Douglas Field.

Mr Field, who lives in Great Horkesley, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to businesses in East Anglia.

He stepped down as chair of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership earlier this year after years at the helm of the business group.

Barry Hearn, credited with playing a big part in the commercial success of darts and snooker, has been awarded an OBE for services to sport.

The 72-year-old, from Chelmsford, is the chairman of Matchroom Sport.