A Sompting man dubbed a ‘local hero’ was invited to the late Queen’s memorial carol service to honour his contributions to the community.
Tom Smith, a local scout leader, was invited to the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Thursday (15 December).
This year’s carol service was dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the values Her Majesty demonstrated throughout her life, including duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion and support for others.
Many of the guests were invited because they also live by these principles.
The King and The Queen Consort, The Prince and Princess of Wales, and other Members of The Royal Family attended the service which will be broadcast on ITV1 at 7pm on Christmas Eve.
Mr Smith was chosen to attend the event by Adur District Council chair Andy McGregor, council leader Neil Parkin, and East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton who had previously given him a Coronavirus Community Champion Award.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Thursday, Mr McGregor said:
“Tom has worked for many decades as a sea scout leader. He has spent around two years getting 45-foot donated yacht Supeta on the water, leading a team of volunteers from across Adur and Worthing to pass the high standard required for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency safety coding; a requirement if they are to take children and adults to sea in safety. The yacht is now in the water and has a berth in Shoreham Port. The team has already introduced hundreds of local users, including disabled people, to the joys of sailing.
“Tom is also a motorcyclist who delivers blood across Sussex. While carrying blood, he was recently in a severe road accident with a car carrying four nuns. You couldn’t make it up could you? Tom was in hospital for a long time and sustained life-changing injuries, although he soldiers on without complaint. He was found to be completely blameless for the accident.
“Tom has been a local police constable in Lancing and a retained fireman and he really is a pillar of the community. Not only that, Tom is going to find this Christmas particularly difficult. This year his wife Heather, in her mid-60s, died suddenly and unexpectedly from a congenital heart defect.
“I am so pleased that Tom has received this invitation to recognise his work in the community.”
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