Toymaster reports that member Bill Bulstrode has received the British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours list.
Bill Bulstrode, of Bulstrodes/Framlingham Toy Shop, has been trading for 53 years and said the announcement of the honour had taken him by surprise. He told the East Anglian Daily Times he was not aware of who had put his name forward.
“When the letter arrived a few weeks ago, I was amazed,” commented Bill. “I am delighted. I am a Framlingham boy, born and bred, and have lived and worked in the town all my life. I have done a lot for the town and I still do a lot for the town.”
The established independent retailer in the heart of Framlingham is a member of Toymaster and also runs a website which offers the same level of customer service that the brick & mortar store takes pride in.
In a message to members, Toymaster’s Yogi Parmar commented: “We would like to congratulate Bill Bulstrode (our member from Bulstrodes, in Framlingham) who has been named in the King’s New Year Honours list and has received the British Empire Medal for his services to Framlingham. I’m sure you will all join me in congratulating Bill on this fantastic achievement.”
Aside from his business interests, Bill has played a huge part in events in the town, including the Diamond Jubilee for the late Queen Elizabeth II in February 2012 and celebrations for the opening of the Olympic Games in London in the same year. He has helped to organise late night shopping events, Christmas trees and decorations, as well as flags and bunting in Framlingham town centre. Following flooding from Storm Babet in October, Bulstrodes provided a new home for the town’s Post Office, which was flooded out of its premises.
Bill said he would collect the award in memory of his late wife Teresa, who died two years ago, adding that he was ‘chuffed to bits’ to have been nominated, but did not expect rewards for his efforts. “Helping the town gives me huge satisfaction,” he added. “I hit 70 back in June, so I don’t climb the ladders as much as I used to, but I am still here to help the town as much as I can,”
