New Year's Honour for dedicated Clitheroe volunteer Richard
and live on Freeview channel 276
Mr Dugdale, 75, has worked tirelessly for decades, helping the needy in this country and abroad.
His latest efforts have been driving Santa's sleigh around Clitheroe, which raised more than £2,500 for charity, collecting shoe box donations for victims of domestic violence, and this week he has been marshalling people getting Covid vaccinations at his local GP practice.
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Hide AdHe said: "I'm overwhelmed and greatly honoured. I must have some very good friends who have nominated me for this. I'm very pleased."
In 1996, Mr Dugdale, who ran a saw mill for 25 years, has been a member of the Rotary Club for 32 years, fulfilling several roles including president, secretary and he is currently treasurer.
He credits his involvement with the Rotary Club for "changing his life", and has carried out much of his charitable work with fellow Rotarians.
He said: "I just like helping people, I enjoy it.
"I just like to see people with smiley faces and the work that the Life Education Trust is so important to do."
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Hide AdMr Dugdale has been involved with the Life Education Trust since 1998. The charity provides health-focused education in schools from reception to year six on a range
of topics including cleanliness, nutrition, drugs and alcohol, and bullying.
As a volunteer, he has transported the mobile classrooms that the charity uses to deliver its services to schools, and fundraises for the charity through sponsored cycle rides. These have included the first stage of the Tour de France, the Three Towers ride from his home town of Clitheroe to Blackpool Tower, the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower in Paris (and back again), Land’s End to John O’Groats, the North Sea cycle route, and an annual ride in West Bradford, raising a combined £10,000 for Life Education.
He has also raised funds through the Clitheroe Bonfire, which he has run as chair of its committee for 10 years, has fundraised and volunteered in a polio vaccination effort in India, is a volunteer driver for the MS Society, and has been involved with the Clitheroe Local Organisations Committee, which last year supplied all residents aged over 80 in the local area with Christmas food parcels.
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Hide AdHe said: "I am busy, but since college, I've always lived by the rule, work hard and play hard.
"I'm always doing something, I can't stand to be doing nothing."
Mr Dugdale has managed to keep the BEM honour under wraps from his family, apart from his wife Stephanie, who he said was "very pleased".
In 2021, he hopes to complete more fundraising cycle trips and visit his son in Australia.