Baldev Singh and Dr Lucy Pearson were among police officers, staff and other members of the public who have gone “the extra mile” to be handed awards this week by Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole.
The people who were awarded honours included officers who had brought serial criminals to justice or tackled dangerous armed men, as well as members of the public who put themselves in harm’s way.
Mr Singh, pictured, 51, travelled from India to receive a commendation for his life-saving efforts. He was at the forefront of a group of worshippers at the Namdhari Sikh Gurdwara, in Linden Street, Spinney Hills, Leicester, in August 2013 when a man took out an axe and attempted to assassinate His Holiness Srisat Guru Uday Singh Ji.
Police said Mr Singh’s brave intervention saved the life of His Holiness, who received a broken arm and a cut to his nose in the attack.
Led by Mr Singh, who is secretary to His Holiness at the headquarters of the Sri Bhaini Sahib, in Punjab, the group managed to disarm the man, who was later convicted of attempted murder and was jailed for 17 years.
Ranjit Singh Flora, of the Namdhari Sikh community in Leicester, said: “Baldev was the first person to get up and defend His Holiness. He is a very brave man.”
