16
Jan
Harrogate charity founder awarded MBE by the Prince of Wales
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A Harrogate woman who founded a charity to raise funds for neonatal medical equipment was at Windsor Castle this week to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Fiona Martin set up Friends of Alfie Martin in 2002 after her healthy baby son died due to medical negligence.
Over the last 24 years, she has helped raise more than £1 million, which has paid for state-of-the-art medical equipment for the Leeds Centre for Newborn Care, a unit that cares for the sickest newborn babies from across Yorkshire.
Fiona received the award from the Prince of Wales.
Her award was announced in the King’s Birthday Honours in June last year.
Ms Martin, who also owns and runs womenswear shop Best Kept Secret on Harrogate’s Cheltenham Parade, received her MBE from the Prince of Wales, and was accompanied on the day by her husband Roger, daughter Betsy and mother May.
She told the Stray Ferret:
It was a bit of a double-edged sword, really. When I first found out about the award I felt slightly embarrassed and overwhelmed.
I never set out 24 years ago to get an MBE – that was the furthest thing from my mind. I just wanted to raise money for medical equipment, and also keep Alfie’s name alive.
The award was presented at Windsor Castle.
She added:
But now some time has passed since I first heard, and I feel super-proud, humbled, and delighted. But it’s been a team effort – I certainly haven’t done this on my own.
Receiving the award – and the build-up to it – was an emotional experience, but I think the excitement of the day carried us through.
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