Queen’s honour for Max

After camping in his back garden for more than 600 consecutive nights, raising £700,000 for North Devon Hospice, Max Woosey has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

West Buckland School student Max (pictured right) received a letter from the Cabinet Office telling him that his hard work had been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

The 12 year old is the second youngest person to be honoured by the Queen.

Max said, “I’m so excited by this, but the hospice are the true heroes, they’ve done all the incredible work to look after people. I just hope this award will help raise even more money for them.”

To donate go to: justgiving.com/max-woosey1

Max, known worldwide as the ‘boy in the tent’, began camping in his back garden when the first national lockdown was announced in March 2020. He wanted to raise £100 for the hospice who had just cared for his friend and neighbour Rick Abbot. Before Rick died, the keen adventurer gave Max his tent and told him to go and have an adventure with it.

He has had a trip to 10 Downing Street and been named a Pride of Britain award winner. North Devon Hospice’s chief executive, Stephen Roberts, said: “Every single plaudit that comes Max’s way is totally deserved. And to think it all started from that one moment, when the hospice team came to visit his neighbour. Sometimes life offers you small opportunities that could lead to big things. Be like Max and seize those opportunities with both hands.”