Bill gets top award.

A BEXHILL resident has been presented with a prestigious award for over 40 years service to a lifeboat charity.

Bill Hampshire, of Terminus Avenue, attended the Barbican Theatre, London, recently to be presented with the RNLI's top civilian prize - the gold bar to add to his gold badge.

He was received the award from the Duchess of Cornwall.

Mr Hampshire has been raising money for the charity since the early 1960's.

The gold bar award is presented to people who raise funds for the organisation or run lifeboat stations.

He said: "Ten years ago I was given …