THE West Devon-based director of international rescue charity RAPID-UK who has been awarded an OBE, has dedicated the award to the whole of the charity's team. Graham Payne, 62, from Jacobstowe, who was awarded an OBE for services to international rescue in the New Year's Honours list, said: 'This award would never have materialised without the support and backing of everyone at RAPID-UK. We are all friends in RAPID and that goes a long way.' RAPID-UK provides experienced emergency response volunteers in the aftermath of disasters anywhere in the world. RAPID-UK teams have been sent to Pakistan, Iran and Turkey among other countries, where their expertise has helped save many lives. Graham said it was amazing to think what the charity had achieved since being formed a decade ago. 'We started with nothing and within ten years, we have come to be recognised as one of the best rescue teams in the world.' Graham said there was no danger of the charity resting on its laurels and it would continue to place a key importance on preparedness issues in disaster-prone regions. 'There is a hell of a lot more to do,' he said. 'We want to train up teams in their own countries. We are currently doing that in Pakistan and in Peru, and we are hoping to place a team in the Middle East too.' Graham said he had been stunned when he received the letter announcing the award. 'I was surprised. It has taken a lot of taking in. You get a lot of recognition locally, but getting this award shows we are really getting known,' he said. Graham joined the International Rescue Corps in 1983 and was a veteran of many emergency missions abroad, when he decided to form RAPID in 1996 in response to the frustration at the length of time it often took to get to the worst-affected areas after a major disaster. RAPID-UK's director of operations John Holland was also awarded an OBE in the New Year's list. Graham and John can now look forward to a trip to the palace to collect their honours within the next five months.