Good work is duly rewarded as North Kessock woman gets a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Marie Curie and work within the Inverness community in the New Year honours list
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A North Kessock woman has been honoured in the New Year list for services to Marie Curie and work within the Inverness community.
Davina Gillies, who is 78 years old and lives in the Charlestown area, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).
Mrs Gillies said she was surprised when the letter from the Cabinet Office informing her of the honour landed through her letterbox.
She said: “I didn’t know what on earth it was – I thought I’d done something wrong. I hadn’t a clue what I was looking at and I couldn’t believe it at all.”
The letter arrived around six weeks ago and Mrs Gillies was sworn to secrecy and not tell anyone the news.
Mrs Gillies worked as a Marie Curie cancer nurse and during her career she cared for in excess of 200 people and she played a part in the introduction of the successful Marie Curie Cancer Highland’s night support scheme.
Though she retired in 2003, she continued to care for patients living with life limiting conditions and became a very active hospital visitor, while volunteering at the Macmillian unit at Raigmore Hospital on a near full time basis and has raised considerable amounts for Marie Curie.
She has retained her position of youth leader, volunteering through her local church in the engagement and management of around 120 young people from the youth club.
