'It's amazing to see people awarded our medals'

Phil McDermott said the medal team sometimes got to hear the stories behind the medals and the recipients' extraordinary deeds

A Worcestershire business owner has said it is amazing to see people being awarded with the medals produced by his company - from local fundraisers to celebrities.

The Worcestershire Medal Service in Bromsgrove has been making state awards since the 1980s, and also cleans and remounts the honours.

The company has a contact with the UK Ministry of Defence, and recently had its Royal Warrant renewed by the King.

"We love to see picture of our products in cases, people from all walks of life as well, that's the nice thing," said its founder Phil McDermott.

"Right from somebody who's raised money locally to do with their village hall... [then] obviously we see celebrities receive our awards.

"Ringo Starr received a Knighthood manufactured by us - that was great, to see the photograph with him holding up our box."

Mr McDermott said the team were "fiercely proud" to produce the George Cross

Other recipients of their medals include David Attenborough, Captain Sir Tom Moore and Dame Deborah James.

"We produce all of the gallantry awards awarded in the UK, with the exception of the Victoria Cross," said Mr McDermott.

Mr McDermott said the firm was "fiercely proud" to produce the George Cross, which acknowledges some of the bravest acts carried out by civilians or by military personnel not under enemy fire.

In 2024, the company started making the new Elizabeth Emblem, which is awarded as a mark of recognition to the next of kin of members of the emergency services who died on duty.

The Elizabeth Emblem is given to the family of those in public service who lost their lives in the line of duty, including police officers and firefighters

"We hear of some of the deeds that people perform to get them," said Mr McDermott.

This year is 80 years since the end of World War Two, which means the company is extremely busy.

There has been an increase in demand to see medals remounted, which has pushed the business's waiting list to up to eight weeks, because all of the work is done by hand.

It is a far cry from the company's humble beginnings.

"I'd been a medal collector as a boy and I started selling my medal collection to raise money, and one of the dealers asked me who mounted the medals," said Mr McDermott.

"I told him I did, and so was born the idea to create a medal mounting company."