Patriotic Mike Fleming is the winner of this year's Ken Thorkilsden Gold Star Award for his tireless efforts to promote Remembrance at work and within his community.

This honour is given by our Gold Star Award sponsors, First, in memory of Ken Thorkilsden, who was a driver, an inspector and a manager with the bus company until his death in 2005.

On the day of his funeral, First drivers were allowed to pull over to the side of the road for a minute's silence in his memory. It is the only time this has ever been done.

Mike Fleming, 65, from Bedminster, is a driver with First and has worked with the company for 19 years. He served in the Navy and he and his wife Pauline are now members of the Merchant Navy Association.

Mr Fleming organises a Remembrance service at the Lawrence Hill bus depot every year to pay tribute to the employees who fought in the world wars and also civilians who lost their lives when buses were hit in the Bristol Blitz.

Yesterday more than 200 employees and family members gathered at the depot for this year's service and laid wreaths of poppies.

Mr Fleming said: "I got involved in doing this because it began to die a death here and it was something that the depot manager knew I was interested in.

"Through my involvement with the Merchant Navy Association I got the Royal British Legion Standard bearers and bugle player involved.

"I think it is fitting that things like this should be remembered, not just to remember the two world wars but all the fallen in conflicts since.

"For us to have the freedom that we do, many people died – and that must never be forgotten.

"We have got a lot to be thankful for in this country and we may moan but we are free to say what we want and it's the people like those whose names are on the war memorial here that gave us that.

"Part of this is to remember those colleagues who went to fight in the war, those civilians who died on buses, like Doreen Burnard, who was 18 when she died on a bus in the blitz, and for all those who have fallen.

"My father never came home from the war and so it is something that is very close to my heart. I feel it is important that we keep it going so the younger generations who don't know can come to realise the impact.

"I feel very humbled to be honoured in this way when I am sure there many others more deserving."

The Evening Post Gold Star Awards recognise the extraordinary achievements of local people, whether they have saved lives, cared selflessly for others or shown great courage.

Evening Post deputy editor Rob Stokes said: "This is a special award in memory of a man who was admired and liked by so many. That gives it an added poignancy.

"Those who receive it always stand out from the crowd and through his commitment over many years to honouring those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom, Mike is a very worthy recipient of this award."

Also at the ceremony were Doreen Burnard's family. Doreen's brother William Burnard and his wife Glayne and sister Betty Smart as well as Doreen's cousin Francis Palmer and niece Pam Green attended the ceremony.

Mrs Green, aged 65, from Longwell Green, said: "My name is Pamela Doreen Green so I carry my aunty's name and it makes me very proud.

"She lived in Easton and was travelling on a bus along Broad Weir, going to the eye hospital, when the last bomb ever to be dropped on Bristol during the blitz hit that bus.

"It is wonderful to have been invited to the ceremony and remember Doreen. My mother Elsie O'Hara was very close to Doreen and loved her so much. She was devastated when she died. My mother passed away two years ago and I feel it is especially important now to come to the remembrance ceremony to represent her."

A vintage 1955 K-type K5G green Bristol bus was brought along to the ceremony by Mike Walker.

During the ceremony there was a blessing and prayers from the Rev Jane Hayward, from St Anne's Church in Eastville, and the Last Post and Reveille were played by the bugler.

Justin Davies, managing director of First Bristol, said: "Mike has done a terrific amount to promote remembrance both within First and in the community as a whole.

"He is an extremely well regarded member of the team and I want to congratulate Mike and his wife Pauline for all they have achieved."

All our Gold Star winners for 2008 will be invited, along with their families, to a special lunch at the Marriott Hotel City Centre next month.