Sponsored by
Whitby charity shop stalwart awarded MBE
A SLEIGHTS woman has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Margaret Paradine Bull has been rewarded for more than 50 years' voluntary work for the charity Save the Children, including working in Whitby's shop since it opened.
Mrs Bull said she was "staggered but delighted" to have found out she had been awarded the accolade.
"I was shocked as you can imagine and I'm delighted that I still work with so many great people at the shop in Whitby, especially my boss Marjorie Thompson, who I feel should have got an award to," she said.
Mrs Bull moved around a lot as a child as her father was a minister but settled in London when she became a children's nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
It was here her love of children began.
"As my own children got older I started to use my time to help other people's and that is how I became involved with Save the Children," she said.
Mrs Bull did her nursery training during the war and qualified at Great Ormond Street Hospital as a Registered Sick Children's Nurse but when she had her family, she gave up nursing but still wanted to help children.
"I have not just worked in shops but also sat on committees and such like.
"The reason I enjoy it still is that we are the only shop in Whitby that relies solely on volunteers, we have no paid staff and most of us have been helping out for more years than I can remember."
Even though she is now 85 she is still not giving up in the shop.
"I think I have a couple more years in me yet, I kept trying to retire but they won't accept my resignation," she joked.
Jo Norris, regional manager for Save the Children said: "We are really proud of Margaret.
"She has been volunteering for Save the Children shop for a great number of years and is a great example of a volunteer.
Even when she has been poorly she has been selfless and continued to come and help people."
Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of Yorkshire Forward who has a holiday home in Whitby, has also been honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours List with a CBE for his services to business and regeneration.
Mr Hodgkinson, who has been chairman of Yorkshire and Humber's Regional Development Agency for seven years this December, has had two three-year terms back-to-back and was asked to extend his term by a year to help guide the region through the economic crisis.
In his role, Mr Hodgkinson is ultimately accountable for Yorkshire Forward's performance, reporting directly to senior Government Ministers, while providing the key interface with Yorkshire Forward's stakeholders.
Mr Hodgkinson is passionate about good design and architecture and is a keen supporter of the arts and built environment.
He has more than 30 years' business experience and has been involved with many property and building-related businesses within the region.
He is currently chairman of Magna Holdings Ltd, a property development and investment company where he is involved in developing brownfield sites, redundant and historic buildings and work in conservation areas.
Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of the Yorkshire area. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and supporting businesses throughout the region.
Yorkshire Forward's investment is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding.
"I am delighted to receive this honour. Business and Regeneration are my passions and for this to be recognised at the highest level is remarkable," he said.
"I have enjoyed every minute working with Yorkshire Forward, even through the more recent difficult economic times, as I know the work we do has a positive impact on business – through support, places, regeneration and ultimately the people of the Yorkshire and Humber."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Whitby
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
