A LEDBURY man who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity has received recognition from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award recognises outstanding UK volunteers – those making a change in their community.

Mike Pullin BEM, aged 87, has raised £740,000 for St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford after founding a motorcycle club called The Hospice Angels.

He has also appeared on the One Show where he was given a ‘one big thank you’ by presenter Roman Kemp for his fundraising campaign and dedication over the years.

Mike said: “I was very surprised first of all that the One Show (BBC) should do a story about me. Then more surprised when I received a letter and certificate from the Prime Minister.

“My fundraising started by accident on my 60th birthday in 1996, having organised a party at the Bridge Inn, Kentchurch. The money raised, I took to the Hospice, and a compulsion was born. Every year since then I have been organising a range of events.”

 

Mike, who has since retired from his job as a printer, wanted to use his free time to help others, so he started his fundraising efforts. Since then, he has masterminded some unusual ways to raise money including sky-diving and riding on a horse and carriage with a friend all the way to London.

 

He said: “In 2002 with my friend Mick Marshall we took Frank the horse and carriage from Ledbury Market House to Hyde Park in London and raised £12,500 - just one example of our adventures.

 

“In 2003 I started The Hospice Angels and over the next few years we visited 19 countries on our motorcycles. Six of Herefordshire’s twin towns - two in Germany, three in France and Ledbury twin town STROMSTAD in Sweden.

 

“I have given talks to 190 different groups including in Herefordshire; two in Radnorshire, two in Gloucestershire and two in Monmouthshire.

 

“At present I am organising another team of Flying Angels to skydive at Netheravon. So far £82,000 has been raised from previous teams and I’ve met many incredibly generous people along the way.”

 

Mike received his BEM in 2016 for his fundraising. He lives at Harling Court, New Street, Ledbury, and said he continued to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice because five of The Hospice Angels have been cared for at the hospice and also several of his good friends.

 

He said: “Recently, together with two of the Hospice Angels, I was taken to Elstree BBC Studios in Hertfordshire north of London, believing we were guests of the BBC to view their studios.

 

“It soon became obvious that it was more than this and I soon realised they were making a programme about my fundraising. This was shown on The One Show on February 18.

 

“Another surprise came when I received a letter from the Prime Minister and a certificate making me the 2,272nd person to receive the Open Light award.

 

“Although having given up motorcycling after 71 years I still am fully committed to raise funds for our hospice. So many things have been organised over the years old age is finding it difficult to recall them all. Each year I have a book that records all the money raised and the total at present is £740,000.

 

“I have also made films of most of the events. Frank’s Journey of the trip to London has now raised over £25,000 and been shown at many events.

 

“Another silly example of fundraising happened a couple of years ago. Someone gave me four jigsaws - now called The Jigsaws Saga - and the total raised from these jigsaws sold by myself and several friends is now almost £4,300. There are so many more stories like that. I have also been Santa on many occasions at Radway Bridge Garden Centre.

 

“If anyone wants to join the Flying Angels there are a couple of places left in the team.”