DEVIZES businessman Richard Oliver, who has helped build commercial and community links between Britain and the UAE, is to be made an OBE.

Mr Oliver, who spends much of his time in Abu Dhabi, described the award as a tremendous honour.

A banker by trade, he served for five years as chair of the British Business Group, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes trade between the UAE and the UK and offers networking opportunities and help to small- and medium-sized companies.

He is treasurer at The British School Al Khubairat, where three of his four children were educated. He has served as a governor at the not-for-profit school for the past 12 years.

Mr Oliver has previously held senior positions at HSBC and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. He is currently employed by AES LLC, part of the Al Suwaidi Group in Abu Dhabi. He was chairman of the British Business Group for five years, between 2012 and 2016, and is still involved as group community liaison.

In Devizes he is treasurer of the charity Opendoors which helps homeless people, a trustee of Devizes Foodbank and assistant treasurer of St James church.