LONG-TERM Frogmore resident, Michael Watts, is to receive the British Empire Medal in the Queen Birthday Honours List. Mike, who lived in Frogmore for ten years before relocating to Penzance, worked tirelessly as an animal collection officer for the RSPCA for 16 years. Starting as a volunteer when he was 14-years-old, Mike eventually got a paid position for the job and his two dogs, a miniature Yorkshire Terrier and a Whippet came from the RSPCA. Talking about receiving the letter that told him of his award, Mike said: 'I knew about it for about a month before I could tell anyone. ' I had to wait for it to be announced, which was really hard – I don't keep secrets! 'It's fantastic, I'm really glad that normal people like me get this kind of recognition, hopefully it will encourage other people to go that extra bit further. I feel very honoured.' Mike has had some interesting and memorable cases as a collections officer, but the one that sticks in his mind was rescuing six German Shepard puppies that had been born in a badger set. Mike said: 'The mum had gone missing about a year before the pups were born and we managed to find them all and she was reunited with her original owner – although she was a little bit wild by then. All the puppies were fine and were rehomed.' Despite making the transition from volunteer to staff at the South, East and West Devon branch in Exeter, Mike never claimed for any overtime, saying 'that was my voluntary donation'. He, along with his wife Pascale, helped to organise fundraising events and raise the profile of the centre at local events, to support the totally self-funding centre. Mike has not stopped his charity-minded ways since moving to Cornwall, and is now a teaching assistant at a local school and is helping with their fundraising events and encouraging the children he works with to get involved in charity too. The award will be presented locally and then Mike will be invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace with other award winners.