A dyslexic man whose experiences of failure at school prompted him to set up a support network for people with severe learning disabilities has been awarded the MBE.

Tom Rhind-Tutt, 85, will be decorated by the Queen this autumn for his work at the Sunnybank Trust in Epsom.

The trust, which aims to enrich the lives of the learning disabled community in the area, was founded by Mr Rhind-Tutt 25 years ago - after he battled dyslexia as a child.

He said: "I was dismissed from school in 1939 for being a poor pupil and, aged 20, I had just fallen by the wayside.

"Fortunately, I got a job and started to understand what dyslexia is and, with the help of my wife Marjorie, I overcame the difficulties I faced early on.

"Through Sunnybank, I have been able to contribute something positive so that life is worthwhile.

"It is a personal achievement of having started with failure, coming through it and bringing others with me."

The trust has 170 volunteers who work across Epsom, supporting 300 people.

It provides a weekly social club with activities including dancing, music and handicrafts; and a friends’ scheme which sees volunteers providing companionship to individuals at their care homes.

Its advocacy service involves volunteers providing one-to-one support and representing the best interests of the learning disabled to local authorities on questions over their care.

Mr Rhind-Tutt, a grandfather of three, said: "While people with learning disabilities do quite well in terms of accommodation, they lack affection, friendship and tender loving care.

"These people have a mental age of three, their reasoning powers are very limited and, in some cases, they have to have total care.

"But some are able to go round the shops and, if they receive continuous support, they can do more things for themselves.

"But very often in the past, these people have been left on their own in a home.

"I do this for the happy smiles on the patients’ faces.

"Some of them don’t smile for a long, long time and then one day they do and it means a lot to us.

"I am overwhelmed because I don’t feel I deserve the honour, but I am glad because it recognises all those volunteers who work so hard and enables us to talk about the need for greater support for learning disabled men and women."

Do you know someone who received an award in the Queen's birthday honours list? Contact Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 87226346.