THERE was a surprise in store for the old shipmates who arrived at Skipton Golf Club to receive medals for their gallantry serving in the Arctic convoys more than 70 years ago.

First they received the Russian Ushakov medal for their bravery protecting merchant vessels carrying vital supplies of food and armaments bound for the Soviet Union.

Then unexpectedly, Alan Brown, of Otley Street, Skipton, Norman Robinson, of the Oval, Skipton, and Calvert Townend, who lives in Haworth, were also presented with a special victory medal to mark the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The three sailors, all aged 90, and Susan Allan, of Elslack, who was receiving the medals for her late father Norman Riches and Pauline Diamond on behalf of her deceased husband Frederick, were presented with the medals by London-based Russian assistant attaché Lisa Vokorina.

The event was organised by the Skipton Royal Naval Association and the Russian party was welcomed by RNA member Alan Haigh.

The men were involved in some of the most memorable naval actions of World War Two.

Mr Brown was commander of a torpedo boat which escorted Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Arromanches-les-Bains during the D-Day operation, Mr Robinson was a telegraphist on HMS Belfast which helped destroy the German cruiser Scharnhorst, Mr Townend was in an action which shoot down a German fighter as it was attacked the convoy and Mr Riches dramatically survived his vessel being torpedoed by the German battleship Tirpitz.

Mrs Vokorina said: "On behalf of the Russian Federation I am so happy to present these medals.

"We want to reach out to all of you and say what a huge privilege it is for us to thank you for your bravery. You made what was the worse journey in the world, thousands of your colleagues died and your heroism will always be remembered."

Between 1942 and 1945, thousands of Royal Navy servicemen and sailors crewing the merchant fleet died helping to ship vital food and armaments to the Soviet Union.

British sailors have been entitled to the Ushakov medal since about 2012 and a number of Royal Naval seamen have already been honoured.