Royal Humane Society

06/08/2026

"When the lady put me forward for the award I was completely over the moon. There were so many people there who had done so many amazing things. It inspired me – it was really uplifting and I'm proud of myself."

Great to see our awardee Lester Hales featured in the Northamptonshire Telegraph.

Lester was working security at Lidl in Kettering in June 2024 when he stepped in to stop a man leaving with a stolen box of knives and stood his ground through a violent attack to keep everyone else safe.

He was awarded a Bronze Medal at the Royal Humane Society Awards 2026, presented by Sir William Russell and Chairman Rupert Novis at Haberdashers' Hall.

Read the full article here: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/kettering-security-guard-awarded-bravery-medal-for-protecting-lidl-customers-from-violent-shoplifter-8836914?fbclid=IwZnRzaATenR1wZG9mBWZkaWQWUL3-cN_xmRrTEkYTSODx1-ePX5zk12V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5n-gRjtkRS0gBXpAUQTIHi1r3K2FjiUMXm8yg_QjYvfG-9aMMsMYmLizIDOw_aem_sjWOMuf1IOgIGGErLuc53w

We are so proud of you too!

A Kettering security guard has been awarded a medal for his bravery after he protected a family from a ‘violent’ shoplifter in the town.

03/08/2026

"It's absolutely mind-blowing because you sometimes expect you're going to meet a superhero, and the person you meet is a person that you maybe pass on the tube on the way here."

Rob Gurney, Trustee and Governor of the Royal Humane Society, shares his thoughts on this year's awardees and the work of the Royal Humane Society. Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwEOiqnwAg

For more than 250 years, the Royal Humane Society has recognised extraordinary acts of courage in the saving of human life. Other than awards made by the Crown, the Society is the oldest and premier national body for honouring bravery.

Support our work and help ensure they continue to receive the recognition they deserve:

https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/donate

31/07/2026

Mel tragically lost her dad to a cardiac arrest when she was young. Now, she's been honoured for helping save the life of a dad who suffered a dramatic cardiac arrest of his own.

Registered Midwife, Melanie knows the devastating impact of cardiac arrest first-hand, but her quick thinking helped spare another family the same loss that she experienced.

While watching her sons play football, 60-year-old Peter suddenly collapsed playing hockey on a nearby pitch. When those around him realised he wasn't breathing, Mel ran over and drew on her years of NHS experience to coordinate life-saving CPR.

Mel was just a teenager when her dad sadly passed away at 42 from a cardiac arrest with no one around him who knew how to respond.

After spending decades in our hospitals honing her resuscitation skills, she was able to coordinate continuous CPR for Peter while a defibrillator was used repeatedly to restart his heart.

In total, Peter received around 20 minutes of CPR and five shocks before paramedics arrived on scene. Against the odds, he was still alive when he was handed over and brought to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for emergency treatment.

He described waking up in hospital in significant pain from the life-saving interventions, including broken ribs from chest compressions, but with a growing realisation of how close he had come to dying. “I look back now and think I’m just incredibly lucky,” Peter said.

Miraculously, Peter experienced no lasting brain damage and is now back doing what he loves on the hockey pitch again.

For Mel, who has completed annual resuscitation training for more than 28 years, the incident was a powerful reminder of why those skills matter. “You can go your whole career thinking you’ll never need to use it, but when it happens you realise just how privileged you are to be able to make a difference”, she said.

Mel and others involved were recently recognised with an award from the Royal Humane Society but says “the fact that he’s alive is what matters”.

Thanks to Mel’s quick thinking and years of training, Peter’s family were spared the same devastating loss she experienced.

29/07/2026

A wonderful day at The Queen's Club for the Royal Humane Society’s Committee meeting and Away day.

It was a superb opportunity, before the summer break to evaluate our bravery and lifesaving nominations, and to recognise the hard work of our secretariat and trustees throughout the year.

Thank you to our Chairman, Rupert Novis, for arranging the day and to all the staff at Queen's for their warm welcome and hospitality.

If you know someone who should be nominated for a bravery or lifesaving award, please visit: https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/nominations

28/07/2026

"Really proud of our officers who received awards today, but members of the public too, a really humbling experience."

Laurence Taylor, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, shares his thoughts on this year's Royal Humane Society awardees.

Watch and share: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cNciKeI1S08

For more than 250 years, the Royal Humane Society has recognised extraordinary acts of courage in the saving of human life. Other than awards made by the Crown, the Society is the oldest and premier national body for honouring bravery.
Support our work and help ensure they continue to receive the recognition they deserve:

https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/

23/07/2026

14 year old Shelby Quigley was taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh's Award Bronze Expedition when she spotted 15-year-old Lotus Bowker struggling in the fast-flowing River Wyre, in Lancashire.

Lotus sadly died in hospital the next day. But as our Secretary Andrew Chapman put it, "Shelby gave him the best possible chance of survival, few people would have kept going the way she did, so close to drowning herself."

For this reason, Shelby has been awarded the Society's Silver Medal for outstanding bravery.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/18/teenager-tried-save-drowning-boy-bravery-award-lancashire/

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15988721/Girl-14-handed-rare-bravery-award-rescuing-drowning-boy-Duke-Edinburgh-expedition.html

Shelby Quigley, 14, recognised for courageous attempt to rescue 15-year-old in fast-flowing river

20/07/2026

"The most incredible acts of police bravery, because policing is a job like no other, you never know what's coming next."

Andy Prophet, Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, shares his thoughts on the importance of recognising the bravery of this year's awardees, some of whom were from the emergency services.

Watch and share here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1onpZ8elrVk

For more than 250 years, the Royal Humane Society has recognised extraordinary acts of courage in the saving of human life. Other than awards made by the Crown, the Society is the oldest and premier national body for honouring bravery.

Support our work and help ensure they continue to receive the recognition they deserve:https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/

Herts Police

17/07/2026

Local Heathfield man is awarded a Royal Humane Society bronze medal in recognition of his selfless act when saving a drowning man at last year's Airbourne in Eastbourne. Full story in comments below:
Photo credit - Phil Milnes

16/07/2026

"I just thought, wow, given the situation that they had, would I have jumped in? Would I have gone into that fire? Would I have gone into that water?."

Caroline Davies, Prime Warden of The Haberdashers' Company shares her thoughts on the bravery of this year's Royal Humane Society awardees. Watch in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxzZNBzRho4&t=38s

The ceremony took place at Haberdashers' Hall.

For more than 250 years, the Royal Humane Society has recognised extraordinary acts of courage in the saving of human life. Other than awards made by the Crown, the Society is the oldest and premier national body for honouring bravery.

Support our work and help ensure they continue to receive the recognition they deserve: https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/

13/07/2026

"Absolutely in awe just hearing the stories of the bravery of everyone".

Pete O'Doherty, Commissioner of the City of London Police, shares his thoughts on the bravery of this year's Royal Humane Society awardees.

Watch and share: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ibG5ZzK1iUg

For more than 250 years, the Royal Humane Society has recognised extraordinary acts of courage in the saving of human life. Other than awards made by the Crown, the Society is the oldest and premier national body for honouring bravery.

Support our work and help ensure they continue to receive the recognition they deserve: https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/

City of London Police