PICTURES: Dedicated Elgin Marie Curie volunteer receives British Empire Medal (BEM)
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AN Elgin grandmother who has spent more than 40 years volunteering for charities has been presented with her British Empire Medal (BEM).
Veronica Maclean (69) received her BEM in King Charles' New Year's honours list and was presented with the honour in a ceremony on Friday.
The medal was presented by Moray's Lord Lieutenant General Seymour Monro and Mrs Maclean’s family, including her three children and four grandchildren, were also in attendance to see her receive the recognition.
Veronica said: “It was a very special and very emotional day, I was quite overwhelmed with emotion but was really lovely to have all of my family with me.”
Veronica received the honour for her dedication to Moray charities, including PoppyScotland and children’s charities Step by Step and Children 1st. She has also been instrumental in fundraising for Marie Curie in Moray and was thrilled to discover during her presentation that during her time as a fundraiser, their Moray team have raised more than £500,000.
Following on from her presentation on Friday, Veronica has only been even more determined to continue her charity work and has spent much of her time since hosting coffee mornings, collecting fundraising tins for the charity’s Daffodil Appeal and attending fundraiser meetings
Veronica added: “I am completely, utterly and totally determined to continue with the charity work and keep going with fundraising. Marie Curie is incredibly important, I was hugely grateful to them during my husband’s illness and I want that to happen for more people and to raise as much money as possible so everyone is aware of the care they provide and can have the same treatment.”
