An Aberdeen man has been honoured by the Queen for his decades of service with an emergency relief charity.
Colin Moffat, a British Red Cross volunteer, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours List.
The 58-year-old from Cove, began volunteering with the British Red Cross in 1978, after successfully completing a first aid course for his Duke of Edinburgh Award.
His volunteer career with the charity began when he was asked to help out at an Aberdeen FC match, and he has been with them ever since.
Four decades later Colin – whose wife Gill also volunteers with the charity – is now part of the vital crew which supports the ambulance service.
He said: “I love being part of the Red Cross family. There’s a huge sense of camaraderie, being part of a team making a phenomenal difference locally and globally.
“It’s a genuine privilege to be able to help people when they are most vulnerable. They are so grateful. I know what a genuine difference the Red Cross makes because I get to see it all the time.”
Mr Moffat has held a variety of posts within the Red Cross including volunteer emergency response coordinator.
He has been part of the response team called to a number of major events over the years, including Piper Alpha, the Super Puma helicopter crashes and the Storm Frank floods in winter 2015-16.
On a more day-to-day basis, Mr Moffat provides front-line ambulance support, treating patients and taking many of them to hospital.
Despite decades of volunteering, Colin is modest about his contributions, and said it was “humbling” to be given such recognition.
“I am only a small cog in the big Red Cross wheel,” he added.
