A FORMER BBC journalist and presenter talked about his charity work with the Duke of Cambridge as the second in line to the throne presented him with an MBE.

South Today and Antiques Roadshow presenter Bruce Parker received the honour at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the local community and a number of charitable organisations across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

“It was a wonderful day,” he said on receiving the award.

“I was honoured and proud to be presented with my MBE by a very chatty Prince William.

“He bowled me over slightly by saying, ‘Good morning Bruce, congratulations,’ and he was very interested in all the projects I have been involved with, particularly Winchester Cathedral.”

Mr Parker continued: “He had a word, too, saying how pleased he was about my being a vicepatron of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, telling me that he is very keen on air ambulances receiving as much support as possible and underlining how important they are to the communities they serve.”

In addition to his lengthy career at the BBC, which spanned more than 35 years, the 75-yearold is chairman and trustee of the Friends of Winchester Cathedral, who have been instrumental in raising £21m towards its future upkeep.

He is also chairman of Guernsey academic charities the Elizabeth College Foundation and The Gibson Fleming Scholarship Trust.

The grandfather-of-five, who lives in Appleshaw with his wife Suzanne, is a vice-patron of the Southampton branch of Smile Support & Care as well as an ambassador for Leukaemia Busters, Southampton.

In the local community he has served as chairman of Appleshaw Parish Council and as chair of Harestock School governors in Winchester where he lived while working for the BBC.

After growing up in Guernsey, his extensive media career began as a student reading English at the University of Wales when he became the Welsh education correspondent for The Times.

On joining the BBC he began presenting South Today at the age of 26, going on to front popular shows including Nationwide and Mainstream.

He was the first presenter of Antiques Roadshow, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and in 1982 he led the coverage of the raising of the Mary Rose and later took charge of BBC South’s political programming.