Oldest rail worker and veteran manager awarded BEM

Jenny Saunders, customer services director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: "We are in awe of what Joe (left) and Siggy have achieved."

Two Thameslink team members have been awarded their British Empire Medals following the King's Birthday Honours, for their service to the railway.

Siggy Cragwell, 85, the company's oldest employee based at Elstree and Borehamwood station, and Joe Healy, station manager at Luton Airport Parkway and Harpenden, have received the awards.

Mr Cragwell, who has worked on the railway for 62 years, said: "I've been wearing my medal and showing it to my passengers – I've been getting a lot of hugs and kisses."

Mr Healy was also recognised for his work helping people with disabilities and special needs to become more confident on the trains. "To be awarded this is like the icing on the cake," he said.

Mr Cragwell's medal was presented to him by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa (third from right), at the Tower of London

Mr Cragwell has previously appeared in a BBC Teach video to inform children about how transport has changed.

He talked about using buses and bicycles during his childhood in Barbados, since residents did not own cars and there were no trains. He came to the UK in 1962.

Mr Cragwell has also won two lifetime achievement awards and was guest of honour at the National Windrush Monument unveiling at London Waterloo station in 2022, alongside the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The station assistant said he had no plans to retire in the near future.

Joe Healy's medal was presented to him by the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Susan Lousada, at RAF Henlow

Mr Healy has been in the industry for 24 years. For eight of those he has organised Try A Train days for colleges in Bedfordshire.

The sessions have been designed to encourage people who need additional support to become more independent on the trains.

Mr Healey said: "Everybody has a right to travel no matter what their disability.

"Why should we have somebody sitting at home thinking they can't get out, they can't travel because they're too anxious or afraid even to come to a train station?

"We need to break that down, and if there's anything I can do then I'm definitely going to do it."