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MBE for RAF veteran known as town's 'Poppy Man'

Shaun Whitmore/BBC George Kelly who is sitting in a red flocked wing-back armchair. He has short white hair back from his receding forehead and is clean shaven. He is wearing a cream shirt, a blue and maroon tie and over it a black waistcoat covered in a pattern of large gold scrolling leavesShaun Whitmore/BBC
George Kelly has been a volunteer with the Royal British Legion since he retired from the RAF more than 40 years ago

A former World War Two Royal Air Force navigator known as "the Poppy Man" in his town has been named in The King's New Year Honours List.

George Kelly, 101, from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, "has given over 40 years of selfless voluntary service" to the Royal British Legion, according to the Cabinet Office.

Mr Kelly's 40-year RAF career included taking part in the Berlin Airlift (1948 to 1949), as well as the 1956 Suez Crisis, and he was awarded the Air Force Medal.

He said being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "took me rather by surprise", adding he was "just one of a team" of other volunteers.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A black and white 1940s or 1950s photo of George Kelly. He is in uniform, wearing a leather flying jacket done up with a zip and with its fur collar raised around his neck. His hands are in his pockets. Behind him can be seen corrugated Nissan huts.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Mr Kelly said the only time he had not enjoyed being in the RAF was during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, when "we had to stand by to send rockets off"

Mr Kelly, who has previously served as the secretary, chair and president of St Ives' Royal British Legion branch, said: "The letter just came through the post, I opened it up with my normal mail and I was surprised.

"If this is for services rendered for the Poppy Appeal, the British legion and RAFA (RAF Associations) Appeal... I'm not on my own and... they're a good committee."

He joined the St Ives branch on retirement because he "thought it's about time I paid something back".

"I had a good life in the air force... I was able to fly right up until I was 59 and I was very lucky - I walked away from two or three nasty accidents," he said, having been at "Suez, Aden - all the trouble spots".

'I'm one of the lucky ones'

Shuan Whitmore/BBC A black and white image of eight 1940s or 1950s RAF personnel. They are bending over a chart on a table and are wearing uniforms. Most of the men have life belts on over their uniforms.Shuan Whitmore/BBC
Mr Kelly spent the majority of his time in the RAF as a navigator and had "some happy times in the air"

Since 2009, the branch has raised more than £400,000 for the Poppy Appeal and he was awarded the legion's Centenary Award to reflect his outstanding contribution. It also recognised him on its Centenary Wall of Honour.

Mr Kelly has also been given St Ives Town Council's Lifetime Achievement Award because of his regular presentations to schools, cadets and other youth organisations.

He said: "I do talks about why you should wear a poppy and wear it with pride and say the heroes are the ones on the memorial. I'm one of the lucky ones who survived."

Mr Kelly added he hoped to continue supporting the annual Poppy Appeal for as long as he is fit.

"I'm living up to my reputation as the Poppy Man," he said.

Other people from Cambridgeshire who have been named on the King's New Year Honours list include:

  • Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, from Cambridge, former chair of Cancer Research UK, appointed Knight Grand Cross for services to cancer research, medicine and charities
  • Prof Ijeoma Uchegbu, president, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the chemical sciences and to inclusion and diversity
  • Dr Roger Bland, from Cambridge, curator, numismatist and chair of the Treasure Valuation Committee, appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to heritage
  • Beatrice "Bee" Wilson, from Cambridge, food writer and journalist appointed MBE for services to food writing and food education
  • Daniel Schumann, from Exning, Suffolk, and founder of VIVA! theatre group in Soham, appointed MBE for services to community theatre in Cambridgeshire
  • David Chambers, from Huntingdon, awarded a British Empire Medal for services to music and to the community in Somersham

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