A FORMER Taunton man has collected his OBE medal from Prince Charles at a ceremony in Windsor Castle.

Mike Downey, who lived in Blackdown Road and attended St George's Primary School and the former Huish's Grammar School, was presented with the honour at the investiture on Tuesday (May 3).

The award was announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in recognition of his services to world cinema.

Mike, a UK film producer based in London and Dublin, and European Film Academy (EFA) chairman, said: "In the difficult times which we are all experiencing, I’m delighted that my career as a European producer and as chairman of EFA is being recognised in this way.

"The United Kingdom is still very much a part of the EFA film family, and I’d like to take this opportunity to reach out to our existing UK members and the UK industry, that participation is welcomed, encouraged and actively desired by your counterparts across the Channel."

Matthijs Wouter Knol, EFA director and chief executive, said: "This royal distinction and career recognition for Mike Downey is truly an honour for EFA as well, to which his work has been so intrinsically linked throughout the past two decades.

"Mike's courage and decisiveness, his energy and his eye for talent in various parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, has time and again brought people together.

"Even more importantly, Mike is one of those in our industry who use their experience and voice to advocate for the rights and safety of filmmakers worldwide, ensuring that an institution like EFA expands its impact and helps people who need it most."

Mike, whose brother Brian and sister Anne live in Taunton, founded Film and Music Entertainment, and Film and Music Entertainment to work in parallel with the UK entity.

Last year, he was part of the team that launched the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk at the Venice Film Festival, aiming to activate the film community’s collective response to filmmakers facing political persecution.

Mike is on the BAFTA Council and was previously a member of the BAFTA Film Committee and an active member of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.

He was honorary president of the 2020/2021 jury for the revamped LUX Prize, renamed LUX – the European Audience Film Award by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy.