The chief executive of Ayrshire Cancer Support has spoken of her pride after her organisation was bestowed with the highest possible Royal honour from Her Majesty the Queen.
Sandra McCall said she’s delighted after the charity was recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of its work across the community.
The honour coincides with Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and Ms McCall said: “It is such an honour and on behalf of all of us we thank Her Majesty for this truly wonderful recognition in what is such a special year for her.
“It is only right that this accolade should be dedicated to our hundreds of volunteers – without whom none of what we do would be possible.
“This is a crowning moment in our history so far and we are so very grateful.
“To be granted an award like this by the Queen is a wonderful privilege and shows that every second, every minute and every mile our team spends supporting others in need is being noticed up and down the country at even the highest levels.”
As well as receiving the award, the charity will be presented with a domed glass crystal by the Lord Lieutenant, and two volunteers will be invited to attend a garden party at Holyrood House in July next year.
Director of services Louise Graham added: "There simply is no higher award she could have conferred on us, it's awarded for life and the equivalent to an MBE."
It’s hoped the royal endorsement will boost the charity’s fundraising efforts to open a new dedicated cancer support centre in Ayr.
Ms McCall said: ”We are bouncing back again after the pandemic when we lost so many of our volunteer-led shops, and we are so happy to be able to launch services specially tailored for the youngest cancer patients in our community, and our new dedicated Ayr centre is within touching distance.
Even more Ayrshire heroes received honours.
A Scottish Ambulance Service emergency responder from Kilmarnock was awarded an MBE for his voluntary work.
Stuart McLellan, a technician from the Kilmarnock ambulance station, and colleague Ross Nelson, a paramedic from Paisley, Renfrewshire, are co-founders of the Neilston & Uplawmoor community first responder (CFR) group.
Since going live in 2014, they have responded to nearly 2,000 emergency calls and are now MBEs.
Mr McLellan said: “It was remarkable to get our small village community group recognised at such a prestigious level. CFRs are vital across Scotland.
"It’s impossible to place ambulances in every village or town and CFRs are a great way to provide patient care in these areas whilst the ambulance is on its way."
Mr McLellan joined the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2012 as an emergency call handler then progressed to dispatcher, special services desk, before his current technician role, based at Kilmarnock.
He explained: “Working full-time for the Scottish Ambulance Service and doing work voluntary as a community first responder is rewarding – it’s nice to be able to work with other volunteers in the group and to pass on my skills and experience to them so they can further themselves as a volunteer.”
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock's Sally Ann Kelly, chief executive officer with the Aberlour Child Care Trust, received an OBE for services to families in Scotland.
She was "delighted" and "grateful" to be recognised and added: "It is a privilege to do what I do. Leading Aberlour Child Care Trust is an absolute honour."
Incredibly, Ms Kelly's neighbour in the town's Rumford Place, Janis Heaney, was also recognised with an MBE for services to public health during the Covid pandemic in Scotland.
And there was another Kilmarnock success story with Rhona Gibson awarded a British Empire Medal for voluntary and charitable services in Scotland.
Other MBE recipients in the region were Coylton's Lesley Isobel Blair – for services to the beauty industry during the pandemic – and Largs' Walter Cunningham Peyton Smith, lately chair of the Prince’s Trust, Ayrshire, for services to youth enterprise and education.
Also receiving a British Empire Medal is Largs' James Bertram, health and safety manager at Police Scotland and community first responder for the Scottish Ambulance Service, for services to policing and the community.
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