HEROIC Black Country firefighter and fundraiser Rudy Parkes has been given a right Royal seal of approval with a mention in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Dudley-born Rudy has been honoured with an MBE for services to national and international fundraising and voluntary work.

The 50-year-old watch commander at Cradley Heath Fire Station, a member of the UK’s International Search and Rescue team, was one of the hero firefighters who flew to Haiti (January 2010) and Japan (March 2011) to help rescue efforts in the wake of mammoth earthquakes.

But as well as saving lives in his day job with West Midlands Fire Service - Mr Parkes, who grew up on The Priory, has also been helping to improve the fortunes of people in some of the poorest parts of the world.

The dedicated fundraiser and father-of-one, who lives in Stourbridge, has spent more than 20 years driving forward charitable projects overseas. In that time he has made nearly 50 trips to Romania and six to Tanzania - helping to build schools and orphanges.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “For over 20 years Rudy has worked tirelessly for others and is personally responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for great causes.

“No charity is too large or too small – it’s the end benefit that matters to Rudy.

“For example, he has made over 40 trips to Romania to bring hope to forgotten children. One Christmas he hired a horse and cart and dressed up as Father Christmas, he then rode into an orphanage in Bucharest to distribute presents.”

Rudy is also project manager for the Bobby Moore Fund, a cancer charity set up in memory of the popular footballer, co-ordinating around ten building schemes in South America and helping to raise cash for research into bowel cancer.

He said of his accolade: “It was a total shock. I always work in a team, so this is for other people not just me. I’m still in awe - it’s a massive accolade for someone like me.”

Mr Parkes, who is due to retire next year after 30 years with the fire service, said he hopes to devote even more time to his charity work from 2013.

He is expected to collect his MBE from the palace in the next few weeks.