A Welling man who has served in the British Army for almost 20 years, including tours of Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland, has been awarded an MBE.

Tony Richardson lives in Huxley Road, Welling, with his wife Kelly and three young children, Macie, Darcie, and Cooper after growing up in The Grove, Sidcup.

The 37-year-old, who is a Staff Sergeant and member of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, has been in the army since he was 18.

He has been awarded an MBE for services to sport, fitness and charity.

His charity work includes raising £60,000 in memory of Kaine May, a Kemnal Technology College pupil from Bexley, who died in 2011 aged 14.

Kaine was hit by a car while trying to cross the dual carriageway outside Flamingo Park on the A20 on the border of Chislehurst and Sidcup.

Tony has recently moved from the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, where he served with the 2nd Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

He told News Shopper: "I have done numerous marathons, raised around 60k for Kaine May.

"The money was donated to Brake, a charity that specifies in educating young children about the dangers of the road.

"The award is also for my services to sport and fitness within the British army and within Woolwich barracks, where I specialise in boxing training.

"I trained the unit boxing team for two years who eventually won the army title, and combined this with training young children from the local area, giving them an aim in life and some discipline skills.

"I've gone out and tried to get funding to change the facilities that we have, to get state-of-the-art equipment so soldiers can train in the best possible way."

All this led Tony's commanding officer to write him up for an MBE.

Tony added: "I was shocked to be honest, it is one of the highest, most recognised awards you can receive.

"I know I have done a lot but I was overwhelmed, proud and overwhelmed.

"I'm just a normal person from Welling."

News Shopper:

Tony Richardson with local boxer Bradley Skeete, who trained with him in Woolwich 

Tony has two years before he leaves the army, and is now stationed in Aldershot with the Grenadier Guards as their head physical training instructor.

He will be attending the investiture on October 14 to officially collect his MBE.

He added: "The army has taught me discipline, respect, so many qualities. It has been the best 20 years you could ask for.

"I have been all over the world. I've had an absolutely brilliant time."