A VILLAGE bobby from North Somerset has been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. PC Ray Bradley has been a community beat officer

A VILLAGE bobby from North Somerset has been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.PC Ray Bradley has been a community beat officer in the district for 18 years since moving from Plymouth.His patrol includes the villages of Blagdon, Churchill and Langford, where he is on first-name terms with many of the residents.The 43-year-old was one of only two police officers in the UK to receive the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service in the list revealed last Saturday.Honours are handed out to those who have made a positive difference either in their work or community.The occasion marks a double celebration for Ray, as he and his wife, Sandra, also toasted their 20th wedding anniversary this week.Ray is no stranger to awards having received commendations from the chief constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Colin Port, a Crown court, as well as colleagues and residents.He told the Weston & Somerset Mercury that one of his most memorable actions as a police officer happened almost 11 years ago to the day before being honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.PC Bradley said: "As I was on my way back from a day shift at the 1996 Glastonbury festival, I received a call about an armed robbery in Draycott."Control said the assailants had fled in a car heading towards Wells."I was in the area and decided to head towards the main road to see if there was any sign of them. "As luck would have it, their car flashed past me and during the chase an imitation hand gun was pointed at me before being thrown at my police car."I arrested the driver following a foot chase after he abandoned his vehicle. "The driver was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison and the stolen money was recovered." Ray also paid tribute to the support he continues to receive from his wife and son, Calum, who will shortly be celebrating his 17th birthday.North Somerset district commander Kay Wozniak said: "PC Bradley is well known and highly regarded by all in the community he serves. He is an example to us all.