A PENSIONER has received a medal after 45 years “devoted service” to a church in Finchley.

The bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres has awarded 75-year-old Ralph Straker with a St Mellitus Medal just weeks after his retirement from St Paul’s Finchley where he served as verger for 45 years.

The medal is named after St Mellitus, the Bishop of London who re-founded the Diocese in 604 AD after the city reverted to paganism following the Saxon invasions, and is awarded in recognition of substantial contribution to the Christian life of London.

Born in Barbados, Ralph came to London in 1956, aged 21, and got a job as a bus conductor based in Finchley.

Ralph went on to work for the Race Relations Commission in the Diocese of Southwark, he served as a Justice of the Peace in North Westminster and became verger at St Paul's in 1966.

He was also appointed OBE in the New Year Honours List of 2002 for services to community relations.

The vicar of St Paul's, the Reverend Nicholas Pye, said: "I am delighted the Bishop of London has publicly recognised Ralph's devoted service to St Paul's and the Church in London over the last 45 years.

“It is a fitting tribute to his significant contribution to the life of the church and the wider community and we wish him well in retirement."

On receiving the award, Ralph felt “very honoured” and said it was “most unexpected”.

He added: “It has been a privilege to serve as verger at St Paul's and contribute to the work and witness of the church in London."