Brian Potter with wife Judy at Buckingham Palace having just been presented with his MBE.

A tourism champion rubbed shoulders with royalty when he was presented with an MBE for his long standing services to the industry.

Brian Potter, chairman of Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton, met Charles, the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace to receive his honour.

Mr Potter became an MBE last July in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list and travelled to London last week to collect the special award.

He said: “It was 100 years ago (when) Grandpa Potter established what became a national institution, by starting the very first holiday centre all with timber huts, giving the first candle free to the customer to light inside and selling the second candle for an old penny.

“For the last 50 years my career has been in tourism and in the main, been to expand on grandpa’s pioneer dream and to this end I feel extremely proud and honoured to receive this award.

“However, so much is due to so many people including in particular my wife Judy, daughter Jane and son John. Plus, the millions of holidaymakers and many Potters staff, both past and present who have played an invaluable part in allowing me to receive this honour.

“I also acknowledge this honour as a tribute to those early pioneer roots, which all these years on has made the holiday centre movement what it is today and unique to UK tourism.”

Potters Leisure Resort is a five star holiday village in Coast Road and hosted this year’s World Indoor Bowls Championships.