Charity worker ‘gobsmacked’ at MBE award

Jun 18 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A DEDICATED charity worker has said she is “gobsmacked” after being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Gill Mitchell (53) of Kirknewton, is set to receive the accolade for her 11 years’ work with Simpsons Special Care Babies.

The group is a small charity which supports the Neo Natal Unit based at Simpsons Maternity Pavillion, part of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

And it aims to provide extra equipment for the unit and help ensure that every baby in the Neo-Natal Unit has an equal start in life.

However, Gill is modest about her contribution to the group’s success.

She said: “I’m a secretary at the unit so I think of myself as a link between the unit and the charity because I can go between the two and tell them what the other is doing, how grateful the unit is for what the charity has provided and let the group know what else is needed.

“I got involved with the charity when I started working at the unit and I was asked if I could take minutes at one of the Special Care Babies meetings, and I’ve really just stuck with it.

“The first I knew about the MBE was when I got a call from the Cabinet Office a few days ago and I’m still in shock and pretty gobsmacked by the whole thing.

“It’s overwhelming because I don’t feel I have done anything out of the ordinary.”

Gill was nominated for her award by her boss, consultant neonatologist, Mr Ian Laing, who is also a former chair of the charity.

But she says she feels her award is really a recognition of the work done by all the volunteers who help the charity and the staff at the unit.

Gill added: “There are real heroes like the nurses and doctors at the unit who save lives every day.

“I was just in the right place at the right time to be able to help take minutes at the meeting 11 years ago.

“In terms of the MBE, I’m thrilled for the charity because it is a great one and if my receiving this award helps raise its profile and that of the volunteers, then I’ll be really happy.”

l For more information on Simpsons Special Car Babies visit the website www.sscb.org