A veteran of the Second World War Arctic Convoys and former resident of Looe has been presented with the Ushakov Medal by the Russian government.

Alec McCreedy, 92, joined the Royal Navy in 1942 at 18. He trained in communications at the RAF station in Cheadle, and saw action in the Mediterranean before being deployed to Orkney, Scotland. There, he had to intercept German communications to help guide convoys of essential supplies through the Arctic seas.

The convoys were delivering tanks, arms and supplies to the Eastern Front, while trying to avoid German U Boats and warplanes.

Mr McCreedy was demobbed in 1946 and because he could not find work in his home town after the war, he returned to Cheadle. He is father to Karen McCreedy and Diane Stubbs, and grandfather to Jenny, Nicky and Alec.

He said he felt he was receiving the medal on behalf of all the servicemen ‘who did not come back’.