CAMELFORD Rotary Club held their annual Christmas dinner at Bowood Golf Club, when they honour a member of the community with the Citizen of the Year award.

This year the award and citation was presented by Ian Whitehead on behalf of the club to Les Freke from Tintagel for his 40-year commitment to Tintagel Surf Life Saving Club and the Tintagel Community Responders.

In 2017, Les was awarded the British Empire Medal for all that he has done. Les’ dedication and experience continues to inspire local young people and adults to gain life saving skills and to be aware and have a healthy respect for the ocean.

Les still maintains his qualifications in all his activities and is an example of selfless dedication to his community.

The club heard that Les and his wife Angela moved to Cornwall in 1972, setting up a jewellery business. The pair soon joined Tintagel Surf Life Saving Club after falling in love with the beach at Trebarwith Strand.

Les qualified as a lifeguard and has saved the lives of 99 people during his time spent in this role. He went on to become a trainer, an instructors’ trainer and an examiner, and has spent the last 40 years as the driving force behind the club. He has trained hundreds of young people in water safety, first aid and having respect for the sea.

Over 100 people have been trained as professional lifeguards by Les and he trains members to qualify in surf competence, surf life saving, beach lifeguard and at instructor level. He is a trusted national examiner and in the early days of the national body, Surf Life Saving GB, he took a leading role in the development of the current training manuals that brought the national lifeguard qualification to a professional level.

Among this work, Les has also organised family fun days, local carnivals, sponsored swims and the New Year community swim.

Les was also one of the first local volunteer community responders, which has made the difference between life and death for many in a community that is situated 45 miles away from the nearest A&E department. He very quickly went on to become the co-ordinator and trainer for the area.

The club also heard that in 2012, to honour his volunteering and dedication to his community, Les was selected to take part in the London Olympic Games’ torch relay. In 2017, he was also awarded the British Empire Medal.