AN 87-year-old who has been running fund-raising bingo since the 1950s and has raised £60,000 for the air ambulance, has been nominated as a Pride In Worcestershire candidate.

A lady who goes to his bingo and raffle evenings, held twice weekly at Malvern Town Football Club, described Reg Box as an inspiration.

Since 1995, Mr Box, has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Air Ambulance,

To mark his 87th birthday, the county's air ambulance gave him a bottle of champagne when he presented them with his latest £5,000 cheque, which took him over the £60,000 mark.

Mr Box also donates fund-raised cash here, there and everywhere. Each year, he nominates a number of other charities to benefit from his bingo.

Before the fund-raising took off, he was a Dunkirk veteran and served as a Desert Rat in the Middle East in the Second World War.

His money-spinning bingos started when he visited a football team-mate recuperating from a double knee operation at the Worcester Infirmary in the 1950s.

Staff told him about a much-needed bed that would have helped his friend recover, and he decided to raise the £984 need for one through bingo sessions. Now the octogenarian who lives on Brook Farm Drive, Malvern spends four to five hours a week preparing bingo cards. As well as bingo, he also packs up his Foster and Allen and Max Bygraves CDs and goes round senior citizens' rest homes across the two counties and sings along to the golden oldies.

"It all keeps me on the go," he said simply. But people among his wide circle of friends are full of praise.

Gladys Ralph, aged 72, nominated him. "In my opinion he deserves a mention - he is still going and he will be there again this week," she said.

"He's been doing the bingo for 30 or 40 years to my knowledge and he is an inspiration."

"He always goes round singing in the old people's homes - he's wonderful."

l The Worcester News Pride In Worcestershire campaign seeks to highlight all that is good about the county and its people. Do you know someone who makes you proud to live in Worcestershire? If so, nominate them by calling 01905 742244 or e-mailing wen-edit@thisisworcester.co.uk