A longstanding charity shop worker has received a prestigious British Red Cross badge of honour in recognition of devoted service. John O'Neill, of Pembroke, has been involved with the charity since 1999, initially working as a paid employee and latterly as a lead volunteer. He has worked at the charity's shops in Carmarthen, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Narberth, Haverfordwest and Tenby. John was presented with the badge of honour by retail field manager Patrick Jackson at the Red Cross shop in Tenby. The presentation was also attended by Mrs. Penny Drew, Red Cross patron for South West Wales, volunteer council representatives Pat and Roy Thomas, along with other staff and volunteers from the surrounding Red Cross shops. Kathryn Hodgson, Tenby shop manager, who nominated John for the award, said: "John goes above and beyond the call of what is expected of a volunteer. He helps out in any of the shops that need his support and can always be relied upon. He's a real treasure and a pleasure to have around. He is a huge part of the Red Cross family and we thank John for his dedicated service to the charity." John was extremely proud and very pleased to receive the badge of honour, which he said was 'totally unexpected'. Red Cross charity shops rely on volunteers to ensure that donations are sorted and cleaned, the shop is well presented and customers receive excellent service. This, in turn, leads to the smooth running of the shop and helps the Red Cross raise valuable funds. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Kathryn Hodgson on (01834) 849645 or email [email protected]">[email protected] for more information.