A MAN who has dedicated many years to charitable work, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours. A successful property investment company chairman, Michael Campbell describes himself jokingly as "serially unemployable". But his remarkable work with numerous local charities and organisations including Treloars, the Alton Boys' Club, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation, and the Ellis Campbell Foundation, has been a long-term commitment. He says the news of his award was completely unexpected. "Over the years, I reckon I've spent about 10 to 20 per cent of my working time with charities. I'm extremely gratified and surprised. It was something I hadn't been expecting, but it is a great honour," he said. Asked why he had received the award, he added: "I suppose because I do it in my own time without being paid – that's really what they're for." Proud of his stint as chairman of the Treloar Trust for 10 years and now a patron, he is also "totally commited" to his work with the Community Foundations. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation was set up in l989 with the aim of strengthening local communities by encouraging local giving. Taking on the management of charitable funds on behalf of individuals and organisations, making grants to local charities and voluntary groups and promoting the benefits of investing in the community, is just some of the work carried out by the foundation. Developed from a US model, which Mr Campbell says has proved popular and effective in encouraging potential donors to give to local causes rather than opting for larger, national charities, its success led to the creation of the Ellis Campbell Foundation, which supports youth, education and heritage in Hampshire and Perthshire, Scotland. Mr Campbell, who has lived in Shalden for 40 years, is a former Vice-Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and a trustee of the Hampshire Gardens Trust and the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust. He is chairman of the Ellis Campbell Group, a family business of property investment companies, which were involved in the redevelopment of The Lion and Lamb Courtyard, Borelli's Yard and St George's Yard in Farnham, and in 1994, he became deputy lieutenant of Hampshire. The 65-year-old has been nominated for the post of Hampshire's high sheriff for 2008/09. Receiving the CBE is Elizabeth Peace of Wincanton Close, Alton. The award is for her services to the property industry. Heading up the British Property Federation, Mrs Peace has helped to raise the profile of the industry in the eyes of the government. In the field of medicine, Dr Clair du Boulay from Alresford has also been honoured. Currently Dean of the NHS Wessex Institute, which delivers clinical post-graduate education for doctors, dentists, consultants and other health care professionals, Dr du Boulay receives the OBE.