An Eden man has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 New Years Honours List.

Malcolm Wharton was born in Penrith in 1948 and brought up in Winton and Nateby, attending Kirkby Stephen Grammar School and Newton Rigg Agricultural College.

His award is in recognition of his services to Further Education.

After leaving Newton Rigg in 1969, Mr Wharton studied at the Royal Agricultural College and Birmingham University before taking up a career in agricultural education, lecturing at Bicton College in Devon. Subsequently he was Vice Principal of Duchy College in Cornwall and was appointed Principal of Hartpury College, Gloucestershire in 1990.

Mr Wharton will retire from Hartpury in August 2012 after 22 years as Principal, a period during which full-time student numbers have increased from 60 in 1990 to 3200 today.

Hartpury is recognised nationally and internationally, is graded outstanding by OFSTED and is a designated Beacon College.

Mr Wharton, the eldest son of the late Robin Wharton and his wife Mary, who now lives in Morland, is also a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

He said: "As a North Westmorland village lad I am immensely proud to receive this honour on behalf of the whole team at Hartpury, staff and governors.

"It is also much deserved recognition for my parents who worked so hard to give me such a good start in life and for my wife Sarah and my five children who have given me outstanding support during my career."