Blood Biker Who Died in Crash Honoured with Elizabeth Emblem

A volunteer blood biker from the North West has been formally recognised for his service and sacrifice with the Elizabeth Emblem, a national award given to the families of public servants who die in the line of duty.
The honour was presented at Kendal Town Hall to the family of Russell Curwen, aged 49, who lost his life in a crash in Lancaster in 2018 while delivering blood samples from Westmorland General Hospital to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
His Majesty’s Lord‑Lieutenant of Cumbria, Alexander Scott, presented the emblem to Russell’s father, Kenneth Curwen, alongside family members and close friends at the event. It marks only the second time the award has been bestowed in the county.
Russell devoted much of his time as a volunteer transporting urgent medical supplies between hospitals to support patients in critical need. In addition to the emblem, his memory is honoured through several blood bikes named after him and by the naming of the Blood Sciences Laboratory at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Members of Russell’s diving community have also created a special underwater memorial at Coniston, featuring a stainless steel disc engraved with his image, placed beneath the lake for divers to see.
The Elizabeth Emblem, introduced in 2024 as a civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, symbolises national gratitude for those who lose their lives serving their communities.