THE chairman of a Skipton business and charity has been honoured in the latest Queen's Birthday Honours list, which celebrates its centenary this year.

Alongside the New Year Honours list, the awards recognise the achievements and service of people across the UK, from all walks of life.

Mike Davies, the Founder and Chairman of the Principle Healthcare Group and Founder of The Principle Trust Children’s Charity, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to business and to disadvantaged children in North Yorkshire.

The Principle Healthcare Group, with a head office on Airedale Business Centre, Skipton, comprises of seven separate companies, manufacturing health food products for distribution throughout 40 countries worldwide.

The Principle Trust Children’s Charity was established in 2011 to provide free seaside holidays to disadvantaged and underprivileged children. The charity has three holiday homes at the Haven Holiday Park in Blackpool and facilitates children selected by the charity partners, social workers and Sure Start who select those families and children who would benefit from a holiday. Since launch the charity has provided in excess of 400 families and in excess of 1000 children a free holiday.

The next stage of the charity development is to extend the help to other disadvantaged children whom are suffering from severe disabilities, illnesses, recovering from operations, or suffer a life threatening illness. The Log Cabin Appeal has been launched with a target of raising £100,000 to obtain a log cabin in a more serene, quiet location in Yorkshire, where families can go for a holiday and have some respite and quiet time together.

Mike and his wife Brenda have been married for 40 years. They live in Ikley.

Mike aims for the MBE to act as a further catalyst to develop the charity and provide even more underprivileged and disadvantaged children with holidays.

He said: "To see the smiles on the children’s faces, and receive the letters after the holiday, with pictures and drawings of their time in Blackpool having fun is the motivation to us all to provide even more holidays.

“Our people are our greatest asset, and make the difference to our business and to the charity. Without having great, loyal committed people, working as a team none of what we achieve would be possible. I am incredibly proud to receive this honour which is as much for our people as me.”