New year honour ‘humbles’ Richard

A PERTH volunteer has been left “humbled” after being awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

British Red Cross volunteer Richard Stibbles was honoured for his work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Richard, an ambulance crew volunteer, left his home at the start of the pandemic and selflessly volunteered for three deployments in London.

He worked 10-hour days in full PPE, transporting patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 to hospital and taking other patients to care homes or to their families.

Richard, 40, first became a Red Cross volunteer at the age of just 10.

He said: “A Red Cross volunteer came to my school to give a talk and a demonstration.

“I went in the ambulance and was shown how to do resuscitation on a mannequin. I signed up there and then.”

Despite 30 years of volunteering, Richard said he was “shocked and humbled” to have received the BEM.

“I’ve been dying to tell people,” he said. “I told my mum to check the news but I didn’t tell her why.

“She’ll be so incredibly proud. She thinks that caring is in-built in me.

“Even from a young age, if anyone was sick she says I wanted to look after them.”

British Red Cross chief executive Mike Adamson said he was delighted that Richard has been recognised for his work during this difficult time.

He said: “Richard is a shining example of the exemplary staff and volunteers we are lucky to have to support the vital work of the Red Cross.

“He is a true humanitarian and works tirelessly to support vulnerable people when they need it most, especially during the past year.

“We are profoundly fortunate to have him in the team.

“He is a true ambassador for the Red Cross, exhibiting daily and genuinely the values of inclusivity, compassion, courage, and dynamism.

“We are delighted to see him honoured in this way.

“I would like to pass on my congratulations on this well-deserved honour and thank Richard for his continued passion for helping to make a difference.”