Seven years after being declared "washed-out" and "washed-up", a 54-year-old Cononley-based public relations executive has walked off with the UK's most coveted prize in public relations.

Working from his Meadow Lane home, Robert Minton-Taylor defied all expectations by being named outstanding independent public relations consultant 2002, by BBC News 24 anchorman Gavin Esler, at the PR equivalent of the Oscars in London, hosted by the Institute of Public Relations.

"I'm still trying to come to terms with all of this," said Robert. "I feel a bit like Terry Venables, the comeback kid. When I left London after a 27-year international career in journalism and public relations most PR pundits predicted that my high-flying PR days were over.

"No-one believed that moving to Yorkshire was a good idea. It was assumed that I had either fallen off planet Earth or retired," he said.

"Well I've proved them all wrong. I'm delighted as a Yorkshireman to have made it on my own terms and in my own time.

"I am delighted to have helped to put Keighley on the national map. Since I moved up from London seven years ago I have strived to prove that this town and region can produce innovative and creative public relations work that brings measurable results.

"I'm glad too that my stance on taking the spin out of PR in being honest and transparent with the information I communicate has been recognised, as has my stance on offering independent advice that is paid for through fees rather than through commission.

"I believe that the days of commission-based advice in the professional services area, whether it be from financial or insurance advisers or, indeed, business travel agents, have to be numbered.

"The advent of the worldwide web has demonstrated to the public the real cost of so-called independent advice tied to a commission rather than a fee-based system. It's a bold and admittedly scary step to take to go for fees rather than commission on sales, but I sleep easier in my bed at night knowing that the advice I give on the public relations front is truly free from bias.

"As a freelance consultant I can now at long last put into practice my business beliefs, and I'm pleased they have been recognised for what they are.

"Corporate greed and fat cat salaries have no place in today's business environment. Nor does the win-win situation of maximising income and profits at the expense of dealing and trading ethically, as the events unfolding in the United States have proved. I worked for 14 years for a North American company, so I do have some experience of this."

Married with two young sons, Robert currently acts as a strategic global PR counsellor to Scandinavian-based Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the world's largest car carrying and Ro-Ro shipping line.

He also advises Richard Lawson Autologistics, the UK's biggest car logistics company, on PR matters and conducts PR for leading barristers' chambers in Leeds, No.6 Park Square.

He is an associate lecturer in public relations studies at Leeds Business School, part of Leeds Metropolitan University.