The driving force behind a £2.5m charity charge to improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK, has today won Royal recognition in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Tom Bell is the inspiration behind a phenomenal fundraising effort that has made a life-changing and, in some cases, a life-saving, difference to youngsters who are disadvantaged either mentally, physically or socially.

His relentless drive and determination to support the Wooden Spoon children’s charity over the past 12 years has been recognised as he becomes an Officer of the British Empire (OBE).

In his role as the Regional Managing Director of the country’s leading business-to-business express delivery operator, Atherstone-based TNT Express Services, Tom has inspired his 11,000 employees, along with TNT suppliers and customers, to support the Wooden Spoon.


(Image : Royal seal of approval - Tom Bell, OBE, Regional Managing Director of TNT Express Services UK & Ireland.)

Tom (57) from Wolvey in Warwickshire, has been the catalyst behind both awareness raising and fundraising for Spoon since TNT made its first donation of £10,000 in 1997. Since then donations have risen to more than £300,000 per annum via a range of activities including  sponsored aeroplane pulls, international bike rides and mountain climbs, to name but a few.  

He said: “Making a positive contribution to the lives of tens of thousands of children who are disadvantaged in some shape or form, and giving new hope and purpose to their lives is reward enough in itself, but to be awarded the OBE is just unbelievable.

“I am incredibly proud and, in many ways humbled to accept the award. I feel it is a reflection on the magnificent and unstinting efforts of everybody at TNT. It is a privilege to lead such a wonderful body of people and this award is a tribute to their continuing efforts and generosity.”

Tom has also overseen the introduction of a programme that enables employees to take time out of their working day to visit Wooden Spoon supported projects to witness, first hand, how TNT donations are put to best use.

To date, the Seeing is Believing initiative has given 2,000 employees the opportunity to visit ‘Spoon’ sites including special needs schools, children’s hospital wards, sensory rooms, hydrotherapy pools and playground areas.

Tom added: “Our people are amazingly creative and resourceful when it comes to raising money for the ‘Spoon’. We’re still in the grip of a recession but the generosity of our employees continues to shine through. It makes me very proud to see our achievements when it comes to helping those most in need in society.”

(Image : Seeing is Believing - Tom Bell meets a young artist on a visit to a Wooden Spoon sponsored project with British Lions' rugby legend Bob Norster)

Married to Gina, and father to Scott and Amy, Tom’s career in the transport industry spans 37 years, the last 33 with TNT Express Services and its predecessor. He became Managing Director in 1989 and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport.