AN 88-YEAR-old from Weobley was given a Russian medal for his active service on a campaign described by Winston Churchill as ‘the worst journey in the world.’

Tom Chandler was presented with a Ushakov Medal with 23 other veterans in London on October 23, accompanied by his daughters, Denise Powell and Isobel Farndon.

The Russian medals recognise their service during the Second World War Arctic Convoys on vessels which travelled from Britain to northern Russia to resupply the Soviet Union.

The crafts had to deal with the constant threat of attack from German U-boats and aircraft, and severe cold, storms and sheets of floating ice.

Tom, who was born in Dilwyn and attended Dilwyn School, joined the navy aged 17 and trained as a signalman.

His ship, the HMS Denbigh Castle, was a convoy escort for JW-64 in the North Atlantic and Arctic Sea to Murmansk.

On February 13, 1945 the ice covered ship was torpedoed by U-boat U-992 with 11 lives lost.

The remaining crew were transferred to HMS Bluebird.

A Russian tug boat later towed the Denbigh Castle to the Kola Inlet, beached her and she eventually sank into deep water.

Tom and the crew sailed back to the UK on the escort aircraft carrier HMS Campania.

The Russian Embassy announced in 2012 it wanted to give the Ushakov medals to British survivors of the Arctic Convoy to say thank you.

But this was blocked by the Foreign Office as its rules said British soldiers could not receive a foreign medal if the act happened more than five years ago.

The Government subsequently created its own medal- the Arctic Star- but campaigners believed veterans should still be able to receive the Russian accolade.

The Foreign Office decided to allow an exception to the rule and President Vladimir Putin presented the first medals during his visit to London on June 16, 2013.

Tom married his late wife, Maureen, in 1948 and lived in Weobley bringing up their three children, Michael, Denise and Isobel. He has eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Denise and Isobel said: "All family members and friends were very proud that Tom was presented with the medal by the Russian Ambassador. Tom enjoyed his trip to London (especially the Russian vodka)."