Volunteer's award for 40 years of treating MS

Keith Taylor said volunteering at the therapy centre he co-founded has given him "a purpose"

A volunteer has dedicated more than 40 years of his life to helping ease the symptoms of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions.

Keith Taylor, 84, from Yatton in Somerset, co-founded the West of England MS Therapy Centre in Bristol after his wife developed the autoimmune disease in 1973.

The centre treats patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which increases the delivery of oxygen to the body.

Mr Taylor was recently awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours for his work.

"I'm one of these folk that needs a role, a purpose, and this has provided me with that," he said.

When his wife Pat Taylor was diagnosed with the lifelong condition, "there was virtually nothing available to help," he said.

"We eventually heard about hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the States," Mr Taylor said.

"When people breathe almost pure oxygen under increased pressure, like a diving chamber, that increases the amount of oxygen that can go into the body – it helps with healing and comfort."

The first centre opened in Nailsea, Somerset, in 1985 and in 2012 it moved to The Brightwell in Bradley Stoke.

Mrs Taylor died in 2010, so was not able to see the new centre open – but Keith continued volunteering there.

Mr Taylor said he "couldn't believe it" when he heard his community and local church had put him forward for the British Empire Medal.

"It really did knock me back on my feet, everyone has said it's well deserved, but I've just done things I enjoy doing and I find very rewarding.

"It never occurred to me anything like his would ever happen – it's absolutely fantastic," he added.