THE Queen has honoured a highly respected charity volunteer from Helensburgh, a Cardross campaigner and a former local man for services to sufferers of neurological illnesses.

Diana Macintosh, who has provided dedicated support to several organisations for more than three decades, and Sheenah Nelson, who has spent decades volunteering with health-related charities, were both awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, announced last week.

Alistair Newton has been made an MBE for his health work, specifically dystonia, an uncontrollable twitch of the neck and he finds can only be comforted by lying on the floor.

Diana, of Sinclair Street, has volunteered for the Helensburgh branch of Save the Children for 35 years, many of them as chairman.

The branch organises various fundraising activities, including concerts, coffee mornings and afternoon teas and an estimated £300,000 has been raised during her time with the charity.

She said: “Other people are more deserving than me. I was nominated by good friends and I am delighted to receive this honour.”

Morag Smith, Save the Children’s fundraising manager in the West of Scotland, said: “Diana has been such a force for good for Save the Children and she thoroughly deserves her BEM award, we are so proud of her. For many years, she has led and inspired her committee to hold fundraising events.

“Her dedication is unwavering and her efforts have raised vital funds for children all over the world. We would like to wish her a huge congratulations and we pass on our heartfelt thanks.”

Diana, who is married to Keith, has also been an enthusiastic supporter of Contact the Elderly.

She started hosting tea parties in her home for the charity, which eases loneliness by providing tea and company for socially isolated older people, in 1985. And today guests continue to enjoy her hospitality several times a year.

Morna O’May, head of service for Contact the Elderly in Scotland, supported her nomination and said: “Diana has shown remarkable commitment and dedication to the charity and the vulnerable people we support by opening up her home and offering a warm, welcoming, friendly environment where loneliness and isolation is alleviated.

“The fact that Diana has continued this commitment for over 32 years now is indeed remarkable and hugely appreciated by Contact the Elderly and the other volunteers and older guests in the Helensburgh group.”

Diana said: “It is the group organisers and drivers who give up a Sunday every month who I think are remarkable.

“I have met many lovely people and it is so nice to see elderly people who do not get out much enjoy the company and afternoon tea on Sunday afternoons. It is a lifeline for many of them.”

Sheenah, who has spent countless hours as a volunteer for causes close to her heart, has been awarded the BEM to mark her work with Macmillan Cancer Support, Heartstart and heart-related charities.

Sheenah told the Advertiser: “You always think this happens to someone else – so I was honoured and delighted.”

Macmillan in Scotland offers practical, emotional and financial help to people affected by cancer.

It provides trained medical professionals to the NHS and has cancer centres throughout the country where people receive expert care in a specially-designed environment.

In 1984, Sheenah was instrumental in founding a Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising committee in the Vale of Leven.

The committee now covers the areas of Helensburgh and District and West Dunbartonshire. Sheenah was the founding chairwoman and has remained in the post to this day.

The local committee has raised more than £150,000 in the ensuing period.

Earlier this year she was invited with other Macmillan volunteers to a reception in Buckingham Palace where she was thanked personally by Prince Charles for her years of dedication.

Heartstart is a British Heart Foundation initiative to teach emergency life saving skills.

Sheenah initiated Heartstart in the community while a non-executive member of Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

When she left the board in 1997, she was invited to become the trainer for Heartstart projects in Argyll and Clyde and has worked tirelessly to promote the life-saving initiative.

She also served as chairwoman of Dumbarton and District Ambulance Equipment Fund from 1990 to 1992, and was a child protection officer for the health board from 1997 to 2000.

She has been chairwoman and trustee of the Helensburgh and Local District CPR / Defibrillator Association since 2015 and has long service medals for her work with the Red Cross.

Sheenah, who is married to Moir, is also a Rotarian and serves as Heartstart co-ordinator for Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club.

Sheenah, a former primary teacher, has bravely coped with her own health difficulties, including cancer.

At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

This was later refined to Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus), an incurable illness that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks tissues and organs.

Four years ago at Christmas, Sheenah was diagnosed as having bowel cancer and was in hospital for three weeks after undergoing major surgery.

She has now been given the all-clear and looks on every day with optimism.

Alistair, who lived in the Burgh for around 30 years before moving to St Andrews, was hit with dystonia in his 40s.

However, it took a considerable period before he was given the diagnosis of cervical dystonia.

This made him realise how little was known about his illness, and he resolved to change the situation.

In 1995 he was given early retirement from his job in financial services and he then set about raising the profile of dystonia, and then latterly of other neurological complaints as well.

Alistair told the Advertiser he was staggered to receive the award.

He said: “My name was put forward by very good friends in Helensburgh who deserve it far more than me.”

The father-of-two said the neurological condition causes uncontrollable spasms which affects his neck.

“Every three months a tiny amount of Botox, which is a dangerous toxin is injected into my neck to block incorrect messages being sent by the brain which causes the twitching,” he said.

“I have had it for over 30 years and it is now quite stable and I continue my life quite normally.”

He has been a speaker or panel member at many international scientific, patient and other meetings and conferences in Europe and the USA, many of which he organised himself.

For example, he was the principal organiser of Dystonia-Europe 2008 in Hamburg, which was attended by 250 scientists and clinicians, and involved 25 speakers.

In 2011, he was the principal organiser of the 5th International Dystonia Symposium in Barcelona and in 2013 he addressed the European Parliament as part of the European Brain Council’s “Month of the Brain”.

He is currently grantholder and administrator of the European Dystonia Research Network, involving more than 200 scientists and clinicians, funded by COST (European Co-operation in Science and Technology).

Alistair has also founded, or co-founded, and held office on several major organisations concerned with the condition.