Evelyn’s shock and joy at New Year gong
‘Getting the letter was amazing’, says charity champ
A Perthshire woman has described her shock at being recognised for her charity work in the New Year’s Honours List.
Evelyn Grieve has been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work as a speaker with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), as well as for other charity and community work across the region.
The 69-year-old from Blairgowrie admitted: “It was quite a shock, but lovely!
“I got a letter two or three weeks ago to say, but I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone which was a bit difficult. But getting the letter was amazing, I didn’t expect it at all.”
Over the past 22 years Evelyn has raised a significant amount of money for CHAS as a supporter, volunteer and fundraiser.
Her fundraising efforts began with her driving a rickety old bus from Blairgowrie to Rochdale, where she collected £4500 along the way for the Scottish hospice charity which cares for babies, children and young people – including at its premises at Rachel House in Kinross.
Since then, she has remained committed to CHAS by organising a number of events, including a version of Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, which raised a whopping £15,000.
She explained: “I have been doing a lot of work for CHAS for a long time - it is such a wonderful charity and I have great fun doing it as well.
“I have done lots of silly things like parachute jumps, cycling around the Borders and last year I went swimming in Loch Lomond. CHAS volunteer Evelyn Grieve
“I was very surprised to get a MBE for it, never for one moment thought I would get something like that because there are lots of people doing wonderful things for charity.
“My main job now as a CHAS volunteer is going out and giving talks about it to make more people aware of the wonderful work it does. I have been all over Tayside and Angus.”
Evelyn also hopes getting a MBE herself will also boost the profile of the good cause.
She continued: “I absolutely want CHAS to get recognition too because the more we promote it, the more volunteers and money we will get to support more families. Loads of families use CHAS, but we can’t I help out at the foodbank for example.”
Evelyn says she does not know who it was that nominated her for the MBE, but says she has been overwhelmed by the response she has received from the eastern Perthshire community.
She said: “I think it was two friends who nominated me, but I am not too sure because they are not supposed to tell me either. But I get the feeling it was my two friends because they wanted to do something for me a couple of years ago and I said ‘no’.
“It has been really nice to be recognised, and I have had such a lovely response from people. My friends have been phoning me and sending me cards and I have been getting bottles of champagne, I didn’t expect that kind of reaction.”
Evelyn will now need to wait a couple of months to find out whether she will receive the award at Holyrood or Buckingham Palace, but says she is already looking forward to the prestigious ceremony.
She said: “I am absolutely looking forward to getting a new outfit and a new hat!
“I presume I will get to take my family with me - I have been blessed with two children and three grandchildren so I am looking forward to it.”
Evelyn is already planning ahead to carry out a number of fundraising events throughout the year to further promote the work of CHAS.
She says she will be helping her friends hold a charity ball for three different charities including CHAS at Perth Racecourse in February, and will be looking to do a large fundraising event later on in 2018 for the children’s hospice.