Moray woman "honoured" after receiving British Empire Medal (BEM)
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AN Elgin grandmother who has devoted more than 40 years of her life to charity work has received a British Empire Medal in King Charles' New Year's honours list.
Veronica Maclean (69) from Elgin has dedicated much of her life to Moray charities and was honoured for her essential work with Marie Curie, as well as her services to PoppyScotland and children's charities Step by Step and Children 1st.
"I'm just completely amazed by the whole thing," Veronica said "When I found out I just couldn't believe it, I'm sure there are other people who have done much more than I have. I'm very emotional and I just feel very honoured."
Veronica's journey into charity work began with a focus on children, which has always been her passion. While running a Montessori nursery school, she was asked to join Children 1st – formerly the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (RSSPCC).
She has spent more than 30 years serving the charity and is the chair of their Moray fundraising committee, where she organised activities, including the annual Westfield House Fair, which has been held in her home for the last 20 years and has raised substantial sums for the charity's work.
Following the death of her husband John, Veronica has also been heavily involved with Marie Curie, who supported her during her husband's illness. Veronica was the key person in setting up the Marie Curie Moray Fundraising group a decade ago and has been instrumental in raising substantial funds and awareness throughout the region. The group, under her leadership, has consistently raised between £40,000 and £60,000 annually, making it one of the most successful in Scotland.
She has also played a vital role in the success of the Great Daffodil Appeal in Moray and also participates in the Speaker Programme, sharing the Marie Curie story and building relationships with local businesses.
She said: "I think all of the charities that I have helped are so deserving. I'm very passionate about it. Particularly Marie Curie because the help we had from them during my husband's illness was just phenomenal, I know firsthand that the work they do is so hard and so important and they deserve every penny we can give them."
Over her time with Marie Curie Veronica has especially enjoyed helping with the Marie Curie Christmas parties in Aberdeenshire, which combined her two passions, helping children and charity work.
She is also dedicated to her own three children Charlotte, Hugh and Ana who were "thrilled" to learn she had received a BEM and is expecting her fifth grandchild in May.
On her exceptional dedication to charity Veronica added: "I'm sure my grandchildren would like to see more of me, but I really love doing charity work, I love to know I'm doing something to help other people and I really enjoy it. I don't like to let people down, so I do as much as I can, and 'no' just isn't in my vocabulary. I just do it."
