Fundraising TfL worker recognised with BEM in New Year Honours list

A Transport for London worker, who has spent the last decade raising tens of thousands of pounds for various causes in the capital, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for charitable service.

Leon Hall, 52, began his ten year campaign when his close friend and TfL colleague, Steve Lloyd, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2014.

In support of his friend, Mr Hall organised a fundraising event for the Brain Tumour Research charity the following year.

He enlisted a group of colleagues to cycle the length of the District Line, raising £30,000.

Mr Lloyd passed away at the end of 2015 at the age of 39 as a result of his illness.

In his memory, Mr Hall took on The One London Charity Cycle Challenge in 2016 and raised a further £30,000.

The combined total of over £60,000 is the equivalent of funding almost 22 days of research in the charity’s brain tumour research centres.

Mr Hall said he took "great pride" in coordinating the events.

"We had a lot of fun doing it, but again, we made a difference. We helped to raise awareness and raise funds, which is vital for trying to find a cure for such a terrible disease," he said.

The north London resident has also devoted time to community projects over the years, notably installing a real underground train carriage in the playground of a local primary school, which serves as a library.

He said it was a "rewarding" experience: "I was just amazed by looking at the faces of the children when they actually saw what was delivered to them ... they were like, wow, this is amazing.

"It's a real railway carriage that's in their school that they can actually play with and use for educational purposes. It's really good to see."

Ten years on from his original fundraising event, Mr Hall he said he was "overwhelmed" to hear that he had been named in the King's New Year Honours list.

"I can't put it into words, really. I'm still getting it into my head ... It was a pleasant surprise and a bit of a shock when it actually happened," he said.

Describing the moment he received the letter, he added: "Got home from work and there was a very official government letter that was on the table.

"I didn't know whether it was a court summons or if I'd been written to by Q or James Bond or something."

Mr Hall will receive his medal later this year.

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