In 2022 Rutland Rambler John Williams was awarded the status of area Vice President in recognition of his many years’ service to the area.  He was also in the news at the time with regard to the 21st anniversary of his founding of the Rutland Round. He has now gone on to even greater recognition and has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 New Year Honours List ‘for services to conservation and to the community in Rutland’. John has been a major influence over the last 20 years in ensuring the county’s Public Rights of Way were maintained in good order. As the volunteer footpaths officer for the Ramblers, he worked closely with the local authority on a range of public access issues, until retiring from the role in 2020. John is also well known in the local community, and more widely among walkers across the country, for creating the Rutland Round, the county’s own long distance footpath. John’s book describing ‘the Round’ has now sold over 2000 copies and is into its third print run. John lives with his wife Tricia in Morcott. John Pitts, Chairman of Rutland Ramblers, said: “No-one has done more for public access to our county’s beautiful countryside over the last 25 years than John Williams. This award for all his voluntary work is richly deserved.” Here he is pictured with his wife after receiving his award from Ranblers.