A St Albans businessman has been made an MBE in recognition of his work promoting and bringing together lesbian and gay choirs and singers from across the world.

Martin Brophy, who has owned Brophies the Caterers for 30 years, has been given the title as part of the Queens’ Birthday Honours List for his work to promote singing among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community across the world.

Born in St Albans, the 59-year-old is currently the executive chairman of Fruitvox charity and a longstanding volunteer and former chairman of The London Gay Men’s Chorus.

Mr Brophy, who went to Nicholas Breakspear School, said the honour came out of the blue but means a huge amount to him.

He said: "I am very humbled and surprised to receive the news that I am to be honoured with an MBE.

"To be given such an honour reminds me that none of this achievement happens in isolation without brave pioneers and warriors for justice and equality. It’s a nice feeling."

Mr Brophy has also worked as a volunteer, organising a wide range of projects to encourage the celebration of diversity and equality through song, including GALA Choruses and Legato Choirs.

These include the Various Voices Festival in 2009 which brought together 65 international LGBT choirs for a four day festival at the Southbank Centre, The Big Gay Sing in Trafalgar Square as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and a recent international conference in London exploring how new choirs could be supported in parts of the world where LGBT people continue to be persecuted.

Mr Brophy said: "I love making things happen, enabling and brokering magical opportunities, working with so many inspirational and talented people who together have a common mission to make the world a better place for everyone, through our voices."

"I still have some way to go on my journey and I want to thank those who have supported me in being recognised for my work and they all share in this honour.

"I hope I can use it to continue to help people find a voice: their own voice and their voice in harmony with others."