A NAVAL commander who grew up in South Lakeland has been made a CBE for his work in overseeing UK maritime operations in a vast area of the Middle East.

Rear Admiral William Warrender's honour came in recognition of his period of service as UK Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain from 2015 to 2017, a post which saw him play a fundamental role in the operations of a naval force of 31 nations in a sensitive and strategically important region encompassing 2.5 million square miles of water stretching from the Suez Canal to India.

"As the highly trusted deputy to the US Navy 3-Star Commander, he was at the forefront of operational and Coalition development in the region, and has enhanced the UK’s reputation and maintained UK maritime equity amongst allies and bordering nations alike," read the citation accompanying his honour.

Rear Admiral Warrender attended Queen Katherine School in Kendal and joined the Royal Navy in 1988.

He spent his early career at sea, qualifying as a navigator, fighter controller and principal warfare officer in ships ranging from mine hunters to aircraft carriers, and he served on operations around the globe before his posting to Bahrain in 2015.

Rear Admiral Warrender attended a glittering investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive his medal and was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Jo and children George, Henry and Lizzy and his parents Bill and Gill who live in Levens.