The founder of Bexhill Maritime, Raymond Konyn, has been honoured for his contribution to the community.

He has been given a Mayor’s Civic Award by Bexhill Town Council for his years of service to the town.

It was presented by Town Mayor Councillor Lynn Brailsford at a public meeting.

He was the founder of Bexhill Heritage and is a trustee of Bexhill Old Town Preservation Society. His latest role is founder and chair of the charity Bexhill Maritime which plans to build a coastal environment centre on the seafront.

He was the person who had the idea of bringing the Royal Sovereign Lantern Tower to the town to be a focal point of the centre. This was achieved in December and the tower is now in storage awaiting the construction of the building.