MEN and women who go beyond the call of duty for the Worcestershire Royal British Legion (RBL) have been given awards.

Worcestershire RBL's annual conference saw certificates of appreciations and national life memberships presented to long-standing members.

County chairman Ken Draper, who served as a warrant officer with the former Worcestershire Regiment, was given the national certificate of appreciation - the highest national award available.

He said: "It was a complete surprise and I was overwhelmed to receive it. No-one joins the legion to get awards. We join to help others less fortunate than ourselves so it's nice to receive something like this and to know you are appreciated."

Mr Draper, of Beechfield Drive, Kidderminster, joined the RBL's Hartlebury branch in 1964. Three years later he joined the county committee. The 69-year-old said: "At that time I was the youngest member to be elected and 40 years on, I'm still the youngest."

Mr Draper became county chairman in 2000. He was a member of the National Membership Council and is standing for election to the RBL's national board of trustees.

The annual conference, held at County Hall in Spetchley on Saturday, January 12, saw certificates of appreciation given to John Slater and Ray Cox from the Tenbury Wells branch, Doug Tonks from Cookhill branch, Sheila Boyd from Redditch branch and Brigadier Rolph James from the Malvern branch.

National life memberships were presented to Bill Goode, from the Littleworth and Norton branch, Brian Shepherd, from the Stourbridge branch, and Les Astill from the Rubery and Rednal branch.

Barbara Hartley-Woolle was thanked for administering the poppy appeal for 15 years.

Guest speakers were Malvern community support officer Linden Lloyd and Major Simon Butt from the West Mercian Regiment B Company.