A HASLEMERE resident has been awarded the prestigious Order of Mercy medal for his voluntary service over many years to charities and non-profit organisations in the UK and overseas.

Major Derek Smyth, MBE, received the League of Mercy Award for his “outstanding contribution over many years to service charities and to the Territorial Army”.

In recent years, he has been the honorary treasurer of The Not Forgotten Association(NFA), a national tri-service charity which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick and for ex-service men and women with disabilities.

The awards ceremony took place at The Mansion House, in the City of London, in the presence of Princess Katerina, of Yugoslavia, the Lord Mayor of London and other distinguished guests.

The citation for his award was supported by the NFA’s senior president, chairman and past chief executive, and also the president of the NFA in Northern Ireland, where much of Major Smyth’s work took place.

After receiving the medal from Lord Lingfield, president of the League of Mercy, he said: “I feel very honoured and had to pinch himself when I heard about the news, because I couldn’t believe it.”

Lord Lingfield, who is pictured handing over the award (right), said: “Major Smyth has done extraordinary work for the welfare of others and those most in need.

“He is a marvellous example of someone whose longstanding and voluntary dedication to the service and welfare of others is noteworthy and remarkable and we were delighted to be able to make this well-deserved award to him.”

The League of Mercy, originally created in 1899 for the encouragement and recognition of voluntary work in hospitals and the community, was re-launched as a nationwide registered charity in 1999.

It continues the work of the original founder, the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.