When Les Fawcett began volunteering almost 50 years ago he could not have known the impact he would have.
For in a lifetime of helping others the dad-of-three has helped bring changes which have made a huge difference to those in his town, Middlesbrough.
He has spent years working on both Southfield and Gresham community councils as well as his current role of Chairman of the Senior Citizen’s Forum.
And he has gone further still with his bravery earning him a police commendation after he once disarmed a man running amock with a meat cleaver.
Now, as his years of dedication to others have been recognised with an MBE for services to the community, Les is preparing to hand over the reins of the Forum which he has served for more than 15 years.
He said: “What we have achieved over the years has been brilliant for the people.”
Les, 75, started out as a butcher’s apprentice before moving to ICI where he worked for more than 25 years.
He first started doing voluntary work when he was 21, not long after marrying his wife Barbara, now 75, who was a nurse who did some night shifts.
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Angry crowds mob a police van in August 1961
Face to face with a meat cleaver
He wanted to find something to occupy his time when she was at work so he joined the special constabulary - only to find himself thrown in at the deep end when his first job was at the Cannon Street riots of 1961.
This saw large-scale clashes after sailor Hassan Said was caught up in a fight with John Joseph Hunt. Hunt, 18, was killed and Said was later charged with his murder.
Les said: “I can remember a lot of people running about everywhere. It was my first duty but I just thought this is what I signed up for.”
But his bravery was recognised years later when he found himself face to face with a man running wild with a meat cleaver in St Barnabas Road off Linthorpe Road.
He said: “People were running around screaming saying there is a mad man. Myself and a colleague went down the street to find him waving a butcher’s cleaver.
“I approached him and he went to bring his cleaver down on me but I grabbed at it and with a bit of luck I overpowered him with the help of the other officer.”
Les was awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for his bravery.
He also helped set up one of the first volunteer police cadet programmes for children aged 14 to 17 with backing of a grant from ICI which ultimately led to similar groups being set up in Stockton and Redcar.
It also saw his son Paul start out as a member before eventually signing up to the police where he is now a detective.
But his community work did not stop there.
Gates for alleyways in Middlesbrough town centre
Tackling anti-social behaviour
Les, who also has daughters Debbie Mills and Tracy Kearton and five grandchildren, also helped kick off the first scanner appeal for Middlesbrough, backed by his ICI colleagues.
In his work with the Gresham and Southfield community councils, of which he was chairman of both, he successfully campaigned on a number of issues including helping get alleygates fitted following a series of break-ins in the Gresham area and an initiative to tackle vehicle break-ins and vandalism which won a national award.
But much of his work has been for the Senior Citizen’s Forum, of which he has been a member for 15 years and where he is currently chairman.
He said: “When I started it was with the community council which was to help young and old but then when I got involved with the senior citizens it was to improve the quality of life for older people which I think we have managed to do.
“We have a committee of 20 to 22 people and we listen to what local people tell us is needed.
“We prioritise one issue a year and work hard to get things done.”
Les said the group started by holding a concert for older people which has become an annual event, arranging transportation, making it available to everyone.
The last one saw 300 people gathering at the University of Teesside where they enjoyed a meal and entertainment.
Les Fawcett helps launch the emergency bottle scheme
Message in a bottle
But their work has gone much further making a difference to health and welfare of thousands of people.
Their message in a bottle project saw bottles filled with health details being put in people’s fridges alongside stickers to alert police and ambulance services in case of an emergency.
Other schemes included successfully campaigning for seating in the the Mall, developing safety booklets which were delivered to thousands of homes and fighting for bus links to the James Cook University Hospital.
He said: “We are a team - you couldn’t do what we have done on your own. I have worked with some brilliant people and we have achieved a lot.
“Anybody can volunteer and make a real difference. All you need is a couple of hours a week or even a couple of hours a month spare.”
But he has now decided to call it a day at Chairman of the Forum in April - but he is not planning on quitting completely.
“I will still be there in the meetings - I don’t want to stop altogether but being chairman means getting calls seven days a week at all times.
“I have only been able to do this for all these years because of the support of Barbara who has never complained and has helped with many of the projects.”
A magical weekend
His decades of service were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours when he was awarded an MBE for services to the community and particularly elderly people in Middlesbrough.
He collected his award last month when it was presented to him by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
He said: “It was one of the best days of my life - Prince Charles was brilliant.
“My family came to London, even though they couldn’t come into the palace, and we stayed in a hotel for three days - it was a magical weekend.”
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