New Years Honours 2024: Tony Hudgell, 9, Youngest To Receive Medal
A nine-year-old charity founder has become the youngest ever recipient of a New Year Honour.
Tony Hudgell, a double amputee of West Malling, Kent, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the prevention of child abuse.
He lost both legs due to injuries inflicted by his birth parents, who were jailed for 10 years in 2018.
He went on to co-found the Tony Hudgell Foundation and helped raise more than £1.7m for charity in the pandemic.
Tony’s adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, who was made an OBE last year, and her family have successfully campaigned for tougher sentencing of child abusers.
Ms Hudgell said Tony was “proud and very excited” when he found out he was to be honoured.
“It’s nice as he does not want any other child to suffer like he did,” she said.
“I am very proud of him and it’s a wonderful legacy for him.”
Tony is believed to be the youngest-ever recipient of an honour, a record previously held by fundraiser Tobias Weller, who was 11 when he received a BEM two years ago.
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