Danny deserves a medal for all his good works

Danny Bonwitt, aged 83, received his medal last Wednesday from the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the Countess of Verulam, in a ceremony last Wednesday at County Hall, Hertford.

Danny was born in Worms in Germany in 1934, the younger of two children. The family escaped to England via Italy in 1937 and after the war settled in the Manchester area.

After a varied start to his working life, including service in the RAF and commercial work in Ghana and Nigeria, he followed a career in the catering equipment industry, becoming chairman of the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association.

Danny and his wife, Barbara, moved to Potten end in 1985.

Danny was a founder member and early president of the Berkhamsted Bulbourne Rotary Club, which led to him becoming chair of governors for Ashlyns School and also London Colney Primary School.

After he retired in 1999, he became involved in a number of charitable organisations, including British Executive Services Overseas, and Hertfordshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

His local activities have included working for the all-weather pitch for Berkhamsted Raiders Football Club, Berkhamsted ATC, Ashlyns Sports Hall and most recently Potten End Gardening Club.

He was involved for many years with The Prince’s Trust, including as a lead mentor at HMP The Mount, Bovingdon.

He currently leads the organisation and management of the Dacorum Young Artists competition being run throughout the Primary Schools of Dacorum

Latterly, he was a national trustee of the arts-based educational charity NADFAS, and he has recently taken on a three-year role as chairman of Berkhamsted Probus Club.

Danny and Barbara have two children, Adrian and Caroline.