Volunteer called to 7,000 emergencies awarded BEM

Nathan Liberman is on call overnights and weekends

A volunteer community first responder who has been called out to more than 7,000 emergencies, saving many lives, has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.

Nathan Liberman, 58, of Holt, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his 17 years of service to the NHS and the north Norfolk community.

Based in Sheringham, he drove ambulances during the pandemic, getting urgent help to patients as quickly as possible, alongside paramedics and other emergency services colleagues.

Mr Liberman said he was "honoured and humbled" and thanked his family for enduring the many interruptions to their evenings, meals and social life as he responded to people in need.

"I am proud to be a community first responder at East of England Ambulance Service and work with other amazing volunteers," he added.

"I am particularly proud to have helped in the fight against Covid-19, when our most vulnerable residents needed our help and support."

Other recipients in the Birthday Honours include Patricia Pinnington, a 77-year-old from King's Lynn, who has been awarded the BEM for services to girl guiding for the past 60 years.

The volunteer had "devoted a lifetime" to shaping the development of young people, with girls from her unit travelling all over the world, the Cabinet Office said.

Also being honoured are:

• Alan Twiddy, 62, of Holt, awarded a BEM for services to higher education, having provided technical support to City College Norwich students for 36 years

• John Fitzgerald, 62, of Norwich, consultant clinical scientist and head of audiology at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) for the past 26 years, awarded an MBE for services to audiology and healthcare science in Norfolk

• Prof Nicholas Levell, 62, of Norwich, consultant dermatologist at NNUH for 30 years, awarded the MBE for services to the care of people with skin disease

• Paul Metcalf, 82, of Norwich, president of the Norfolk Beekeepers Association, for more than 20 years, awarded the MBE for services to beekeeping