A FORMER officer in the Herefordshire Light Infantry has been awarded the Order of Australia.

Christopher Barnes, who managed Showle Court, Yarkhill, in the 1960s before emigrating to Australia, will be toasting his honour with a glass of wine.

Mr Barnes, whose father the late Tom Barnes was chairman of Herefordshire County Council and West Mercia Police, is a big name in Australia's wine industry.

He has been on the committee of the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association for more than 30 years, nine years as its president.