A Redhill Air Ambulance doctor has been presented with the MBE for services to emergency medicine.

Dr Malcolm Russell was formally invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen at Windsor Castle after being named in the New Year’s Honours List.

The father-of-two, who works out of Redhill Aerodrome for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, was presented with his award by the Queen at the castle’s Waterloo Chamber, watched by his proud wife and children.

He said: “It has been an amazing day and I felt honoured to have my MBE presented by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle. “I felt humbled to be amongst some incredible people and very thoughtful of the work our charity does and the many people we strive to help.”

Dr Russell joined the Air Ambulance as clinical lead in 2007, when the Surrey and Sussex helicopter was first launched.

Last year, he was appointed the life-saving charity’s medical director, responsible for assuring the quality of care provided by its doctors and paramedics.

Dr Russell served in the British Army for 15 years and has been involved in pre-hospital emergency medicine since 1996.

In 2011, he was part of the 50-strong UK International Search and Rescue Team which helped victims of the New Zealand earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance costs around £6 million annually to stay airborne.

Receiving no funding from the National Lottery, the charity relies almost entirely upon the generosity of the public to support its two helicopters based at Redhill and Marden in Kent.

People wishing to make a donation can call 01622 833833, or visit the website at: www.kssairambulance.org.uk