An Essex Freemason has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Keith Brown, of Ingatestone, was awarded in recognition of ‘service to charitable fundraising and the community in Essex’.

Through the registered charity ‘The Fryerning Foundation’, Keith and his wife Rita have raised and donated £250, 000 to charities around Essex and beyond.

The foundation was formed in 2000 and its aim is to make a difference to small, locally based charities around the community.

The donations made include those to schools and churches and particularly to those charities helping children.

As a Freemason, Keith is a Past Master of both Wykeham Lodge no. 4925 and Easterford Lodge no. 2342 in Essex.

He is a former Treasurer of Essex Cricket Club and a member of the Worshipful Company of Coopers.