A former midwife and dedicated charity worker has said she feels humbled to have been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Dorothea Lilian Gell, of Peel, has been given the honour for services to the Manx community and for her work for charities in the island over many years.
Mrs Gell was a district nursing sister and midwife for 34 years from 1953 to 1987, having trained at Noble’s Hospital. And since retiring she has continued her work within the community by helping charities.
Reacting to the award, she said: ‘I haven’t come down to earth yet, it’s wonderful. I’m so happy that someone thought and gave it to me – I just can’t believe it!
‘It’s a real honour and I feel so humbled that the community felt they could give it to me. It hasn’t sunk in yet.’
Mrs Gell is currently a committee member for Manx Mencap, a charity which helps residents with learning disabilities, and is manager of the Manx Mencap charity shop.
She is also vice chairman of the Royal British Legion’s Women’s Section and is a collector for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
For many years Mrs Gell was a First Aid instructor with the Red Cross and the chairperson of Peel and Western District Anti-Cancer.
She said: ‘I think you should give back to the community, you should be caring and think of other people.
‘As long as I am able, I am happy to keep going [with charity work]. I don’t ever want to stop really, I feel I have a lot to give to the community.’
Mrs Gell said it wouldn’t have been possible to carry out her volunteer work without the support and help from her late husband Tommy and son Brian over the years.
‘I couldn’t have done it without them,’ she said.
As we reported last week, three island residents were appointed Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s New Year Honour List.
Former Financial Supervision Commission boss John Aspden was awarded the accolade for services to financial regulation while former chief executive of the Insurance and Pensions Authority David Vick was awarded the honour for services to the insurance and pensions industry.
Charity worker Hugh Davidson was also appointed MBE for services to the Manx community and charities.