DEDICATED Kidderminster Hospital volunteer David Wase - who was given a British Citizen Award for his services - has died.

The Kidderminster stalwart, who first started working with the League of Friends at Kidderminster Hospital in 1959, died at his home on December 19, five days after his eightieth birthday.

During his time with the League, where he served as chairman, the group raised more than £4.5million to support the hospital, while encouraging more than 100 volunteers to join the League of Friends.

One of his biggest achievements was raising more than £400,000 in less than six months in 1999 for the Milbrook Suite, which provided a number of kidney dialysis beds for patients saving them having to travel long distances for their regular treatments. 

Mr Wase was given a British Citizen Award for his services to volunteering and charitable giving, receiving his honour on January 25 2018 at the Palace of Westminster. Mr Wase was nominated by his friend Fred Holland. 

He said at the time: “What a wonderful honour and I am very grateful to the British Citizen Awards for giving me this accolade.

“I feel very privileged to be able to work with such an amazing organisation as the League of Friends which can make such a difference to the lives of patients who are battling all manner of illnesses.

“It also is a vital support to the staff at the hospital who are doing such amazing work. I hope we can through this award thank of all of our volunteers over the years in some small way and also raise the profile of the work of Leagues across the country.”

Former Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor said: "The huge success of the Hospital League of Friends is largely due to David’s untiring, persistent and unrewarded hard work and dedication that has continued unabated for many years.

"A major achievement, overseen by David, was the raising of over £400,000 in less than six months in 1999 for the provision of the Millbrook Suite at the Hospital.

"This is the Cancer Resource Centre that was necessary to allow the Hospital to continue to provide chemotherapy locally for a high proportion of patients with serious illnesses living in Kidderminster, Stourport, Bewdley and surrounding areas."