A recent report showed how hard work paid off really well for a 62-year-old sweeper. It has been said that Anthony Cleland has managed to get the deserving British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services in the community after some 25 years.

"I am very proud and I think it's great that the BEM has been brought back, it shows that ordinary people deserve to be recognised as well”, said the father of two children and a grandfather-of-three, from Stockwell, while confirming that his name was forwarded by his local MP, Kate Hoey, and the Stockwell Community Resource Centre. He is expected to get the award from a local lord lieutenant.

If the head of the Civil Service Sir Bob Kerslake is to be heard, it has been claimed that revival of BEM is indeed a great achievement which would now allow those who serve the community be awarded for their incessant services. This news has certainly surprised one and all and somewhere down the line, motivated others too.

It was in the year 1991 that the award was scrapped, but David Cameron revived the same. There is need for such awards to be organized time to time so that services to local communities can be promoted.