Published: Friday, 5th January, 2007 13:50
MBE for Marion
Print Article
A HEALTH campaigner who has devoted her life to helping others has been awarded an MBE for services to the community.
Helensburgh woman Marion Watson, aged 77, told the Advertiser it came as a “big surprise” to be included in the New Year Honours list.
The plucky pensioner, who has been involved in voluntary work for more than 50 years, was recognised for her contribution to care for the elderly.
Marion served as a committee member of the Scottish Community Care Forum and until recently was heavily involved in the Princess Royal Care Trust for Carers, and the Helensburgh and Lomond Carers Project. In 1993, she was a founding member of the Dunbarton and District Community Care Forum and helped to set up the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Care Forum in 1996.
She said: “I have tended to take an interest in issues surrounding care of the elderly because there are more and more elderly people about and they are not getting the support they deserve from the local authority.
“Seeing people that I know being confronted with these problems as we were all getting older made me want to stand up and get involved.
“The Care Commission forum is an independent voice for service users. I thought here is a chance to do something and I have got a lot of satisfaction out of it over the years. Not everyone likes to speak up. Maybe I speak too much but I hope it has helped.”
Marion started her voluntary work when she joined the Territorial Army in 1951. She was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1965. She also has a long history with the Red Cross and the Royal National Lifeboats Institute. She was awarded the Red Cross long service badge in 2001 and the RNLI silver badge for her contribution to the support of lifeboat services in 2002.
Friend Eileen Gorie said: “Marion is the most remarkable lady. She is unstinting in the devotion of her time, talents, energy and knowledge to the service of others in an entirely voluntary capacity.
“Her outstanding quality is her independence which is acknowledged and respected by everyone she comes into contact with.”
* THERE was plenty to celebrate at Faslane this New Year. Four servicemen were included in the military honours list.
Departing Admiral at the naval base, Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks — who served as flag officer for Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland — was awarded the CB.
Commander Paul Halton, former commander of HMS Spartan, who now works for Flag Officer C Training at Faslane, received the OBE.
Commander Don Milton, head of Nuclear Weapons Safety Assurance at Faslane was also awarded the OBE.
Commander Colin Redstone received the OBE for his work as Northern Area Officer of the Sea Cadet Core.
* GILLIE Thomson, former convenor of Loch Lomond National Park, was awarded the OBE for services to the environment.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Heart fund's £23,000