A Red Cross manager from Hawley, who led the first aid response to the Shoreham air show disaster, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year honours list.

Richard Tyler, 44, has volunteered with the British Red Cross for 34 years.

In August 2015, he led the on site Red Cross response to the Shoreham plane crash, which killed 11 people.

His team were given the highly prestigious Dunant award by the Red Cross for their efforts.

Mr Tyler joined the Red Cross when he was 10 years old and after moving up through the junior and youth groups, he joined his first adult first aid group when he was 15.

Since then, he has volunteered with the organisation and provided first aid at a number of public events and became an ambulance crew volunteer and trainer.

When he turned 21 he became a “centre organiser” - at the time he was the youngest person in Kent to take on the voluntary role.

Mr Tyler has worked for the Red Cross for around 10 years as a lead service manager for event first aid and emergency response across Kent and Sussex.

The dad-of-one, said: “I first joined the Red Cross as a junior member when I was 10. Our teacher, Mrs Chadwick, ran a Junior Red Cross group after school where we did a first aid course. I’ve been on board as a volunteer ever since.

“I was on site managing the Red Cross first aid & ambulance teams on the day of the Shoreham air show disaster. To start with it was a normal day, and we were dealing with the usual minor injuries that happen at every event where 20,000 people gather.

“A 1.22pm, I was at our on-site control point when I saw the plane go up in the loop, and come down again. I remember thinking ‘he’s very low,’ and then a cloud of smoke and flame went up.

“Strangely though I don’t remember any loud noise or explosion.

“I turned to control and said ‘you need to put out a Code Red now’, at that point our major incident plans kicked in.

“My entire team responded brilliantly when it counted most. Every volunteer played their part, establishing triage and casualty clearing stations, feeding volunteers, even just listening to those who wanted to talk as well as treating the injured.

“The team were calm and professional; they did marvellously, and I am very proud to work with such a dedicated team of ‘professional’ volunteers, who then reverted to dealing with ‘business as usual’ for the rest of that day and over the following days.”

Mr Tyler expects to receive the medal from the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent at a ceremony in early 2016.

“I’ve grown up with the British Red Cross from an early age, and I’ve stuck with it because I know I can make a difference when it’s needed with this organisation.

“I will always step up and help if I can to make sure people are ok.

“I’m very proud to have this medal. I don’t do what I do for awards and I’ve never thought about having anything like this, but it’s great to be recognised.”

The leader of Sevenoaks District Council, Cllr Peter Fleming was also honoured in the New Year's list.

He will receive the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to local government.

Cllr Fleming was elected to the council in May 1999 and has been leader since May 2005.

He said: "As with all awards, whilst one person is named and recognised, it is always a team effort.

"This award, for which I am truly honoured, may be for my work at Sevenoaks District Council and the Local Government Association, but it gives me the opportunity to recognise the effort and dedication of my colleagues, both members and officers, in both organisations.

"The honour may be bestowed on me, but it is rightly shared with them."

Cllr Fleming was also chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) Improvement and Innovation Board.

He held the position for four years before becoming deputy chairman of the association.

Cllr Fleming has been a spokesperson for the LGA for a number of years fulfilling many national radio and TV media commitments.