A PENKETH war hero has been honoured with a 75th anniversary medal and thank you letter from the Russian government for his valiant effort in the Arctic Convoys mission.

Ron Fisher, who has lived in Penketh for all of his life, served on the HMS Suffolk during the Second World War.

This was the first ship in the convoy to sight German battleship Bismarck.

The dad-of-five, was given the Arctic Star in 2013 for his service and has medals for the Atlantic, Burma and Pacific.

In the mid-1990s the Russian Convoy Club was formed to start a campaign for their own Arctic Star medal, led by commander Eddie Grenfell, and it was finally struck in December 2012.

The Russian government agreed to honour veterans of the Second World War’s treacherous Arctic Convoys and former seamen including Ron, who is thought to be the only survivor left in Warrington to receive the medal.

This became Russia’s highest naval honour.

Last week Ron was given the 75th anniversary medal from the Russian government for his part in helping to deliver more than four million tons of supplies to the Eastern Front during the war.

Around 3,000 sailors died on the Russian Convoys after facing a gauntlet of German U-boats and warplanes in icy waters.

The missions were dubbed ‘the worst journey in the world’ by Winston Churchill.

Ron, who will turn 99 in September. is now one of only a couple of men left from the Arctic Convoys crew.

On VE Day this year, Ron joined in with the street celebrations taking place on Neville Crescent - complete with his war medals.