New Year Honours 2023: British Empire Medal bestowed upon 76-year-old Islington volunteer 

Keith Schnaar. Photograph: St John Ambulance

A 76-year-old Islington museum guide has been awarded a British Empire Medal for his 64 years of charity volunteering.

Keith Schnaar volunteers as a guide at the Order of St John’s Museum in Clerkenwell which celebrates the St John’s Ambulance charity history and its roots in the ancient religious St John’s Military Order.

During his years of volunteering at the St John’s Ambulance Charity, Keith also oversaw adult volunteers, as well as younger St John’s Cadets.

He now throws his experience with the charity and passion for its history into his guide role and and inspires young cadets to continue their volunteering.

He has been deputy secretary of the volunteer group for the charity for four years.

During the pandemic he ensured older isolated volunteers were able to stay involved and connected.

He now volunteers as a beekeeper in the St John’s Cloister Garden, harvesting honey to sell at the museum shop.

Keith said: “In the St John family, there are many people deserving of national honours, so I am proud to be recognised. I am only sorry that Sheila, my dear wife, is not here to share this with me.”