Brian blessed

Santa's helper brings in millions for charity

- BY JACKIE ANNETT

A PENSIONER who has raised £3million for charity has been nominated for a 2025 Pride of Britain Award.

Brian Broughton, 87, has collected money by walking the Great Wall of China, selling poppies to raise funds for veterans and dressing up as Father Christmas to deliver presents to sick children in hospital.

Brian, who turns 88 on August 26, has no intention of halting his charity work just yet.

He began his working life as an engineering apprentice but has always loved helping others and got an MBE in 2006 when he met then-Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

It all began when his mother died when he was 17. “She was only 42 and had been diagnosed with a brain tumour,” Brain said.

“We were a big family - my youngest sister was just 18 months old and there were five little ones younger than me.