RNLI fundraiser from Devon honoured in Queen’s birthday honours
A devoted RNLI fundraiser from Devon was recently honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list with a BEM for his services to charity and the community.
Arnold Bradbury joined the Barnstaple and district RNLI branch in 1983 when he moved to Devon, and since served as chairman for 25 years and also treasurer.
His successor David Burgess said the success of the branch is very much due to Arnold’s hard work over so many years.
One of his big fundraising events was the branch’s annual gala dinner. The event normally achieves a surplus of £5,000 to the RNLI.
Arnold has raised thousands of pounds for several local causes alongside the RNLI, including the running of the Rotary Club of Barnstaple, the Barnstaple Bridge Trust and Dartington North Devon Trust.
He said: ‘I’m just so surprised, you don’t do these things for any reward – it’s just about being involved in the community and doing what I could to serve and achieve as much as I could for various organisations. I would not have been able to achieve anything without the support of the teams I have been involved with.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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