A nurse who joined the NHS's fight against Covid-19 despite losing her husband to the disease has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Honours.
Maria Hewitt, from Paisley, is being honoured for services to nursing during the pandemic after working on Covid wards and then as a vaccinator for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
She only qualified as a nurse in 2019 - at the age of 55 - after deciding on a change of career after 30 years in the police, and began work on Ward 5 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in her hometown.
She briefly returned to policing as one of 55 women training the first female police officers in the country, but this work was halted by the arrival of coronavirus at the end of that year.
Tragically, the virus claimed the life of her husband John in June 2020. The pair had been together for 17 years and had been married for four.
"I was in the absolute depths of grief," Maria said.
"It was my lowest moment, but I felt I had to do something to help.
"Millions had died and every member of NHS staff was working so hard to help.
"I felt it was what my husband would want me to do."
Despite mourning the loss of her partner, Maria went back to work at the start of 2021, becoming a vaccinator working across the whole of the NHSGGC area with the backing of both her and her late husband's family.
Maria now works as a dermatology staff nurse at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria.
She says she and all her family are "very, very proud" of the honour she has received.
However, she admits it was a bitter-sweet moment when she found out she would receive the award - just days after what would have been her and John's sixth wedding anniversary.
"I feel it's recognition for my own and everyone's efforts during the pandemic, but it also brings back that terrible time," she said.
"Overall, though, I'm so pleased at receiving this honour - and I'm delighted for everyone at NHSGGC, and for all those older students who are thinking of getting into nursing.
"It's a wonderful career and I'd heartily recommend it."
Professor Angela Wallace, executive nurse director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has passed on her own good wishes.
She said: "I would like to express my warm congratulations to Maria for this honour.
"Despite the grief of losing her husband, she continued to play an important role in NHSGGC's effort to protect the public from COVID-19 and I am personally grateful to her and the rest of our staff and partners for their hard work and commitment throughout the pandemic.
"Maria's achievement is also proof that it's never too late to take up a career in nursing, and I hope her story inspires others to make the switch into this wonderful job."
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