A Borehamwood man is celebrating an excellent start to the year when he was recognised in the New Years Honours list.

Paul Welch, 41, who lives in Bullhead Road, was awarded an OBE for services to records and Information Governance.

The head of records and information at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has ultimate responsibility for all records produced by the Government department.

He was nominated for the honour by his bosses after he closed down a file store in south London while acting as a London Ambassador Manager for the 2012 games.

A former pupil at Hillside School and Monksmead Primary School, Mr Welch, who has a degree in human resources and a Masters in information management, started working at the Crown Prosecution Service aged 17.

He said: “I was nominated by Government ministers for my efforts in closing down the file store in a positive way, six months before schedule, ensuring the most of the members of staff were retrained and found jobs in other departments.

“In the meantime I was managing a team of London ambassadors, doing 30 shifts over a two week period.”

“It’s fantastic to be recognised in this way. My family is delighted at my achievement and there have been a few celebratory drinks to be had.

“It’s been a wonderful couple of days.”