HISTORIAN and retired school teacher Arthur Thomas Lloyd is New Milton's first Citizen of the Year.

The new award was created by Mayor Cllr Goff Beck to recognise people who have made a significant contribution to the town.

The framed certificate was presented to 88-year-old Mr Lloyd by Mr Beck at the annual town meeting.

After war service, Reading University graduate Mr Lloyd and wife Ethel moved to New Milton in 1948 where he began teaching.

He transferred to Arnewood School for the last seven years of his teaching career before retiring at the age of 60.

Mr Beck said the award of New Milton's Citizen of the Year is well merited. "It is a deserved accolade for a lifetime's work of seeking the truth of times past and present and of endeavouring to pass his love of knowledge on to both young and old members of our community."