Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Brian Broughton MBE
Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Brian Broughton MBE
Brian Broughton MBE has raised around £3 million for charity over the past 70 years – and the 86-year-old has no intention of stopping.
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps veteran has been the President of Tamworth Royal British Legion for the past two years and still goes out selling poppies, having sold them for the past 54 years.
He’s walked the Great Wall of China to raise money for breast cancer research, dressed up in costumes for Children in Need and raised money for numerous other charities.
Brian, from Tamworth, even grows a beard from August to December each year so that he can be a real bearded Santa Claus for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and various schools.
He said: “My mother died when I was 17 so I went to the hospital to see if there was any way I could help them. I started fundraising and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Brian, who celebrates his 87th birthday in August, started his working life as an engineering apprentice and later became an events coordinator for ASDA.
He was awarded a Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Service Medal and was awarded an MBE in 2006.
Brian has been nominated in the Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by Tina Clements, Chair of Tamworth Royal British Legion.
She said: “Brian for most of his life has raised money for varying charities. He has spent numerous hours in varying costumes raising money for Children In Need, Royal British Legion, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Breast Cancer Now and Tickled Pink to name a few.
“Everywhere you go everyone knows him. He is a down-to-earth family man with no airs or graces. He inspires the next generation of young adults to do well and has even supported youngsters who may have taken a wrong turn to get back on track.
“At Christmas he used to go round all the children’s wards and deliver presents to the sick children who would spend their time in hospital.
“Brian is a true gentleman who just wants to make a difference to everyone’s life. He has so much passion and just loves life. He always gives 100% and if he can’t fix it no one can. Brian oozes enthusiasm and if he can make the life of someone better he will.”
Brian added: “I’m overwhelmed really. I never expect to get anything like this. I just do it because I’ve always done it.”