Bilston man who suffered stroke and lost wife to cancer awarded British Empire Medal for services to young carers

And now Paul Johnson has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to young carers.

Mr Johnson, who is originally from Bilston, suffered a stroke in 1999 and just over a year later he lost his wife Patricia to breast cancer.

But the 58-year-old said it made him determined to do something to help others.

And after going above and beyond his call of duty to help young carers in South Wales he was awarded the prestigious medal.

At the presentation in Cardiff, where he now lives, the father-of-three was presented with his medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan.

Mr Johnson said: "It came as a huge shock when I found out I was going to be awarded the British Empire Medal.

"I am overwhelmed by it, and it feels great to be representing my home town this way.

"The rotary clubs across Cardiff took the project on of helping young carers back in 2004 and since then we have opened a youth centre and even taken them to Disneyland Paris.

"There are over 3,500 young carers in South Wales and we have been able to help hundreds of them since we started.

"The main thing we try to do is give the young carers someone to talk too," he said.

He said the ceremony was a great day and was accompanied by his son Philip, 28 and daughter Victoria, 25, along with his parents and father-in-law.

He added: "Sadly I couldn't take everyone who has helped me over the years, so I will having a BBQ soon to thank the rotary clubs and my family."

As well as spending most of his weekends taking the young carers on day trips up and down the country, he is also a the President of the Rotary in Cardiff.

And on top of that Mr Johnson is also preparing to walk his youngest daughter, Victoria, down the aisle in August.

He added: "Now that I am a member of the British Empire I can get married in St Paul's Cathedral, and so can my children.

"My other daughter Kathryn was very pleased when she heard about that."