The Blue Badge Network

Bernard and his wife, Ida, moved into their house in St Paul's Cray, Kent 51 years ago and, at the same time, he began what has become a lifetime of unpaid work for his local community. Commencing with working alongside Bromley Council, mainly on housing issues, Bernard's work gradually took him into other avenues of community work and he would attend classes to help him become better equipped for the task. In 1997 Bernard's efforts were acknowledged officially by the mayor of the day when he was presented with an award for a lifetime's unstinting voluntary service and was granted the honorary title of Community Adviser. Bernard's work includes involvement with Social Services, the local Dial-a-Ride transport scheme, assistance in arranging funerals, bereavement counseling and, of course, the Blue Badge Network. Our photograph (courtesy of the Broomleigh Housing Association) shows Bernard at his desk at the Outreach Centre in St Paul's Cray. It was while serving with the Royal Artillery in India that Bernard met his wife and their first child, a daughter, was born there. After their return to England their family grew with the eventual birth of three sons. In recent years Bernard has undergone open heart surgery whilst, at the same time, he has watched Ida courageously fight a terminal illness a battle which she sadly lost in the Autumn, just a few weeks after the 55th anniversary of their marriage. Our thanks go to Bernard for all his work within the community, in whatever sphere, especially with our Network locally and on Committee, and we extend to him and his family our sympathy at the loss, which he is feeling keenly, of Ida. More recently Bernard was rewarded for his sterling work in the community by being mentioned in the New Years Honours list (2001). His work in the community is without doubt an example to us all, and the awarding of the MBE is now official recognition of the selfless work Bernard has done.