A DOCTOR from Grange-over-Sands, who was made a CBE in recognition of his services to health protection, travelled to Buckingham Palace with his family to collect his award.

Dr Nick Gent is pictured with his CBE along with his wife Diane, a GP, and their two sons, David, right, and Oliver, left.

He moved to Cumbria with his wife in 1985, working as a consultant to the South Cumbrian Health Authority. He then became a director of public health for Lancaster before taking up the same position for Morecambe Bay.

His work took him overseas, including time working on healthcare reconstruction in the Balkans following conflicts.

Dr Gent moved into health protection work, becoming the director for Cumbria and Lancashire's health protection services and was involved in dealing with the Barrow Legionnaires Disease outbreak