Veteran's campaign to recognise NHS heroes
A campaign has been launched by a Kingswinford man to gain recognition of work done by the National Health Service during the pandemic.
Bernard McKeown, known as Barney to his friends, has launched a campaign on Facebook for it to be known as the Royal National Health Service.
The 83-year-old is a member of Kingswinford branch of the Royal British Legion and proudly wears his National Service medals.
He said: "The British Legion was awarded Royal status for all the work it did for the forces returning after the Second World War.
"More than 100 health service workers have already died while working during the pandemic and I think they equally deserve the recognition of the title."
Bernard did his National Service in Germany in the British Zone which bordered with an area known as the Russian Zone.
His father Ernest Richards served in the Royal Artillery and was one of the servicemen evacuated from Dunkirk during the Second World War.
Bernard, a widower with two grown up sons, Allan, aged 60, and Mark, aged 56, is now hoping that many more people will join his campaign to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of health service workers during the pandemic.
He said: "So far friends and family are backing the campaign but I am hoping to get the message out there to as many people as possible to join the calls to gain the National Health Service the recognition it deserves."
