TWO local heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities for several decades have been recognised with national honours.

Retired building society manager David Wase, aged 78 of Kidderminster, has devoted 45 years to supporting his local hospital and helping to raise millions of pounds for vital equipment, while Wyre Forest District Councillor Steven Walker, of Chaddlesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, has helped people on a voluntary basis in his local area for the past three decades.

David first started working with the League of Friends at Kidderminster Hospital in 1972 as secretary, becoming chairman in 1982. In that time he has tirelessly led the league in its fundraising activities and under his leadership it has become one of the most effective and successful leagues in the country.

From a small charity supporting minor additions to facilities for staff at the hospital, it has developed into a major organisation raising thousands of pounds every year to support hospital staff and activities. More than £4.5 million has been raised by the league for the hospital since it started in 1959.

He has encouraged and inspired volunteers and, together with 17 trustees, has helped to recruit more than 100 volunteers over the years.

One of his biggest achievements was raising more than £400,000 in less than six months in 1997/8 for the Milbrook Suite which provided a number of kidney dialysis beds for patients saving them having to travel long distances for their regular treatments.

David said: “I am very grateful to the British Citizen Awards for giving me this accolade. I feel very privileged to be able to work with such an amazing organisation as the League of Friends which can make such a difference to the lives of patients who are battling all manner of illnesses.

“It also is a vital support to the staff at the hospital who are doing such amazing work. I hope we can through this award thank of all of our volunteers over the years in some small way and also raise the profile of the work of leagues across the country. The success of our league is down to our volunteers, members and the general public who support our appeals.”

The British Citizen Awards (BCA) recognize exceptional individuals who work tirelessly to make a positive impact on their community and awarded twice a year. They are sponsored by Specsavers; property company Places for People; law firm Irwin Mitchell; PR agency Nathan Rous PR and IT firm Cisco.

Emma Taylor from Irwin Mitchell said: “We are incredibly proud to have supported the British Citizen Awards from its first year.

“Through our work we meet some incredibly and inspirational people who against all odds make a huge difference to so many lives. So many people do incredible work to help others and we look forward to hearing more heart-warming and amazing stories like David’s.”

David was nominated for a BCA by his friend Fred Holland who said: “David stands out above everyone else and is an amazing person. It is a big honour for me to put him forward for this BCA award.

“He has been inspiring from the moment he joined the League of Friends and has exceeded all expectations in terms of what he would do. Over £4.5million has been contributed since the its formation in May 1959 by donations, appeals and profits from its second gear shops, coffee shop and refreshment service trolley.”

Councillor and army veteran Steven Walker, aged 49 who was born and bought up in Stourport, is to receive his BCA for his voluntary services to the community.

He has helped people from all walks of life and from many different locations, including raising money for orphans in Kosovo and Sarajevo and completing a gruelling 11.5 hour run across the Falklands from Goose Green to Port Stanley raising money for a local school.

Steven, who served 22 years in the British Army with The 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and the Adjutant General’s Corps (SPS), turned his attentions closer to home when he retired from service in February 2009.

He has raised money for his local branch of the Royal British Legion and serves as a Welfare Case Worker for the charity; he served as a parish councillor in South Cerney and Cerney Wick in the Cotswolds while still serving as a full time soldier and seeing active duty in Iraq – and even assisted saving the village of South Cerney from flooding, digging to lay pipes across a bridal path waist-high in water to prevent the village from flooding on his day off.

He currently serves Broadwaters residents as one of three councillors for the district, working together to enhance the area; he assisted tenants with various problems with the Wyre Forest Community Housing Group, where he was a tenant representative and non-executive director; and he volunteers with various friends groups within the Broadwaters area in his spare time.

More recently he has been working with the committee of The Horsefair and Proud group, which recently raised over £12, 500 for the iconic Horsefair Clock Project 2017. He even gave his time and stood in as the chairman for the Kidderminster Carnival to prevent it from folding in 2010.

He is also the secretary for Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), based in Kidderminster Fire Station, in Castle Street, working alongside his paramedic partner James Bamfourth, who is the chairman.

He also supports his family members with various medical conditions and everyday life is a struggle but he still supports other people who need his help without any hesitation.

He has done all of this while retraining as a domiciliary career, studying for an NVQ in Health and Social Care and completing a degree in business management and business administration. He joined West Midlands Ambulance Service as an Emergency Care Assistant in 2009, and has since qualified as an Emergency Medical Technician, saving lives and responding to 999 calls.

Steven said: “The award came as a big surprise really and I wasn’t aware I had been nominated. I just like to help other people and improve our local community with my friends and colleagues within the various groups I help with. We work as a team, but I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping others. My ambition is to become Mayor of Kidderminster one day, although I’m still a long way off from that yet.”

Pat Egan, from Places for People, said: “I’ve heard so many inspirational stories throughout this year’s judging process and am looking forward to presenting awards to some exceptionally deserving medallists such as Steven later this month.”

Steven was nominated for a BCA by a friend, Karl Matthews, and his wife, Deborah Walker, who said: “Steve really had no idea I had recommended him for this award and I wasn’t really expecting him to be successful as there are many commendable nominations.

“Steve is a truly rare and wonderful human being and what he does is a rare and wonderful thing, and his selflessness in his pursuits to create a sense of pride in the community is so commendable.

“He actively campaigns for residents within our community to get the best services possible and also assists those who need help and support, and he always thinks of his family and others before himself with zeal.

“He is such an inspiration and is an admired and respected ambassador who is looked up to as a role model not only by his children, but other residents of the community and I personally feel he deserves this award to show our appreciation and gratitude for all of his hard work over the years. I just wanted him to know how much pride I have got for him and we love him.”

There are 36 BCA medallists who will be honoured at a ceremony on Thursday January 25 at the Palace of Westminster.