Pinderfields Hospital volunteer awarded BEM for his services

A volunteer at Pinderfields Hospital has been given an honour for his role during the pandemic.
Pinderfields Hospital greeter Richard Holmes has been awarded a BEM. Picture Scott MerryleesPinderfields Hospital greeter Richard Holmes has been awarded a BEM. Picture Scott Merrylees
Pinderfields Hospital greeter Richard Holmes has been awarded a BEM. Picture Scott Merrylees

Richard Holmes from Normanton volunteers six days a week at the hospital, greeting people and showing them where to go for there appointments.

The 63-year-old carried on working throughout the peak of the crisis when many of his colleagues, who are retired, were told they could not work because of risks linked to their age.

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There was a period of around six months when Richard was largely holding the fort alone.

He has been awarded the BEM in recognition of his services.

He said: “I wanted to give something back. I have been a patient at Pinderfields three times since I retired so I felt it was a useful thing to give something back to the hospital and the community. You don’t see how big the hospital is and patients are very grateful for not having to worry about where to go.

“It’s about how to ease their passage – hospital, really, is the last place you want to be. Everyone else was there doing their jobs so I thought I would do my little bit.”

Among the others honoured Farrah Khan, from Wakefield is head service delivery for children’s services, for Leeds City Council and received the MBE. Dr David John Snowball, from Wakefield, who is a formerly member of the management board for the Health and Safety Executive was awarded the OBE.

Jean Margaret Ashton, from Ossett, a formerly director of business services and operations for the Crown Prosecution Service was awarded the CBE.

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