11/07/2026
So Thursday….
I was honoured to have been nominated by Colin Pearson & Jenn Scribbins Mnd Assoc for a special recognition award for outstanding volunteer contribution to the MND Association York Group.
50 volunteers were invited to the beautiful Blenheim Palace to celebrate our work, for a tour of the Palace and Afternoon Tea with her Royal Highness, 👑 Princess Anne, the Royal Patron of our charity. AND a big bonus for us Clarksons Farm fans, was another one of our patrons Charlie Ireland aka Cheerful Charlie was there and what a lovely, happy, funny man he was to talk to and how generous with his time.
I have a whole new admiration for the Princess, one of the most hard working royals, she slipped in, no big fan fare, spoke with every single one of us with great ease, gave a 5 minute off the cuff speech.
I didn’t win one of the 4 awards but that doesn’t matter, to be 1 of 50 people out of thousands of wonderful volunteers was an honour. I didn’t find it an easy day at all and felt unusually overwhelmed on the train, but knowing I had Tracy Sanderson waiting for me with a big hug made my day easier.
MND has taken from me, yet my life is richer for the life and involvement I have within this amazing community. Of course I would like my mum back but at the same time wouldn’t want to swap this second family either.
