My OBE is written in stars by Darlinda

The husband of the late Sunday Mail astrologer Darlinda said she would have been jumping for joy at the OBE he was awarded for his charity work.

Dr Rajan Madhok helped set up a renal research charity after his wife went public on her long battle with kidney failure.

Darlinda, known to her friends and family as Rita, was this paper’s clairvoyant for 16 years until her death in 1995, aged 55.

By then, she had created a legacy of care and a charity that would go on to raise more than £1.2million.

Rajan said the award in the New Year Honours List for his work with the Darlinda Charity for Renal Research would have made his wife very proud.

He said: “She would have loved it. She was the kind of person who would have been punching the air.”

The charity became the biggest supporter of the kidney unit at the former Western Infirmary, enabling Glasgow to become a world leader in renal research.

Rajan got a letter in November telling him of the OBE and he admitted it was a hard secret to keep.

He said: “People have been asking why I have been smiling so much.

“It is one of the greatest privileges in life to be able to do this and make a difference to so many lives.

“But this award is not for me, it should be for al l families who donate organs of loved ones. I should also thank The Sunday Mail for their continued support.”