John (Jack) Gibson has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to music through the Salvation Army in Norwich.
Ninety-one-year-old Mr Gibson, who lives in Church Lane, Sprowston, said he was 'very, very pleased' and 'extremely surprised and honoured' to receive the medal.
The former Royal Marine, whose parents Thomas and Laura were both Salvation Army officers, has been the conductor of the Norwich Citadel Band for 40 years. He became involved in the band after serving in the Arctic, Mediterranean, Far East and the Atlantic during the second world war.
He said: 'When the war ended I came to Norwich where I met my wife Jean. My wife's grandfather, Joseph Harry Mann, was one of Norwich Citadel Band's founding members. I joined the band and was made deputy conductor and then conductor.'
Mr Gibson was also head of music at Sprowston High School in the 1950s before working for the Norfolk Education Committee and the Norwich Education Committee.
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