Earlier this year, we invited our volunteers from across the country to nominate those among us who exemplify the spirit of the Tim Bain Memorial Award.
Created in memory of Tim Bain – one of our longest-serving Area Coordinators who devoted over twenty dedicated years to BDMLR and had attended hundreds, if not thousands of animals in that time, despite not having his own transport. He was also a mentor to many—the award honours individuals who go above and beyond to help an animal in need, consistently embody the charity’s values in welfare, teamwork, and demonstrate outstanding dedication across callouts, training, education, and outreach.
Our judging panel of Trustees and staff received numerous heartfelt and worthy nominations again this year. Among them, Steve Hills stood out, with nominations recognising his contribution across several areas of BDMLR’s work.
Steve is an active Medic in Suffolk and Norfolk, regularly attending call outs, relaying pups to rehabilitation centres and giving his time to care for pups overnight when needed. He is also a dedicated member of the Out-of-Hours Rescue Coordinator team and, in the last year, has become a qualified course Instructor and gained his Advanced Marine Mammal Medic badge. Steve is known for supporting and developing fellow Medics, both in person and over the phone. His methodical and diligent approach to managing rescues brings clarity and structure to incidents across the country, ensuring both Medics and marine mammals receive the best possible support.
One nomination which Steve received said: “I was very fortunate to meet Steve during my first few weeks as a Medic. From the outset, he became an exceptional educator and mentor, quietly and thoughtfully guiding my development.” while another added: “Many Medics have expressed their gratitude after attending call-outs alongside Steve, for his patience and gentle encouragement, giving them the confidence required to assess a pup.”
The award was presented to a completely unsuspecting Steve by Trustee Mark Stevens at a mystery “new equipment” event hosted by the regional team at the end of June. Please join us in congratulating Steve on receiving the Tim Bain Memorial Award – an acknowledgement he thoroughly deserves.