A Hill of Beath businessman has been awarded an MBE in this year's New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to the roof slating and tiling industry.

Gordon Charles Penrose came from humble beginnings and build up his well-known family business in Northern Ireland over 50 years ago but has kept close ties with Fife.

The Managing Director of Penrose Roofing Ltd has spent the past 60 years involved in many associations and he is currently President of the Institute of Roofing.

Gordon, 76, told the Times: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award, I could not have achieved this without the support and help of my family, friends and colleagues in the roofing industry.

"I have had hundreds of messages from around the globe but one message from a former teacher at Beath High School was particularly brilliant.

"It's been 61 years since I left school and I couldn't believe he remembered me after all this time - it was certainly a blast from the past and I was absolutely thrilled!

"It's been a tremendous few days."

Gordon was born in Cowdenbeath but moved to Hill of Beath where he attended primary school and then went to Beath High.

He started off his career an apprentice with Dunfermline District Council and while studying met his wife who was from Carrickfergus.

After the birth of their son they moved to Northern Ireland in 1965 and he started up his business two years later.

Among many of Gordon's roles he has been the past president of National Federation of Roofing Contractors, past president of the International Federation for the Roofing Trades, livery member of the Worshipful Company of Tilers and Bricklayers (London Guild), Freeman of the City of London, Belfast Ambassador and Honorary life member of the Polish roofing federation.

He has also served two terms as Chairman of the National Federation of Roofing contractors (N.I. Region) and chaired the National Federation of Roofing Contractors competitions committee, which had the responsibility for organising roofing competitions including the selection of teams for the UK Skill build and I.F.D World championships.

He had the responsibility along with others in helping to create apprenticeship training for young people within the industry.

It has always been Gordon’s ambition to provide a career path for young people through apprenticeship training progressing to professional roofing qualifications.

Gordon was instrumental in bringing the IFD congress and world championship roofing competitions to Belfast in 2010 and also the I.O.R conference to Belfast in 2012.

Billy Whiterose of plumbing and heating, Gordon's nephew who lives in Fife, said: "He came from humble beginnings and a report from a teacher once said Gordon would amount to nothing!

"He's always looked after me and he's been my hero in business."