Retired consultant rheumatologist who helped develop Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool in Dingwall says MBE in New Year Honours 'came out of the blue'
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A key figure in the establishment of a centre which helps people across the Highlands suffering a range of long-term conditions and injuries has spoken of his surprise at being named in the New Year Honours list.
Dr Malcolm Monteith Steven, a founder and trustee of the Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool in Dingwall, was awarded the MBE for his services to the community in the Highlands and Islands.
The retired consultant rheumatologist said he was pleased to accept the award on behalf of all who had contributed to and supported the Puffin Pool for the past 30 years since its inception.
New Year honours for services to community
"It came out of the blue," said Dr Steven (70) who lives in the Crown area of Inverness.
"Being singled out, I feel a bit awkward."
He said fundraising for the Puffin Pool and subsequent day to day running involved a huge number of people and it was lovely that their commitment had been recognised in this way.
"As the nominated recipient of this award , I have to acknowledge the many people who continue fundraising to subsidise the cost of the pool, particularly the Dingwall charity shop volunteers," he said.
"None of it would be possible without the professional carers, the High Life Highland staff and the physiotherapists who run the pool on a day to day basis.
"Similarly, a succession of people have given their time to the committee which led fundraising and have managed the pool over the last 30 years."
The use of hydrotherapy at the pool not only helps people with a range of conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, stroke, cerebral palsy, it can also speed up rehabilitation after injuries and operations.
It was established after the Highland Rheumatology Unit, providing specialist treatment for arthritis patients, moved from its pre-NHS location in Strathpeffer to more modern premises at the Ross Memorial Hospital in 1992.
He and the physiotherapist were keen to have access to hydrotherapy at the new location but Highland Health Board budgets were tight so they decided to raise the funds themselves.
Ross and Cromarty Council was also keen to have a leisure facility for disabled adults and children so a bigger pool was agreed.
Dr Steven was chairman of the Puffin Pool Board from its initiation in 1992 until 2018.
"Although a lot of fundraising was from Ross-shire, contributors actually come from the wider Highland area and enthusiastic fundraisers from jam makers to competitors in the Highland Cross as well as local businesses all contributed to the Puffin Pool," he said.
"The provision of therapy for those with injuries or long term conditions and leisure for disabled adults and children proved highly popular and in the year before lockdown the pool was having over 30,000 attendances a year."
Initially. funding to run the pool day to day was shared between the health board, council and charity in an innovative collaboration to complement the services provided by the public bodies.
Dr Steven continued: "As recent events such as covid have impacted on NHS waiting lists, the pool has an increasing role in providing pain relief and retention of mobility in the large number of folk awaiting joint surgery reaffirming the pool's importance to the Highland health board.
"With rising energy and staffing costs at the pool, it is essential that these contributions are sustained."
Dr Steven, who retired eight years ago, has a daughter, Rachel Barrington, and a son, Robert Steven.
His wife, Jane, who also supported the Puffin Pool, died five years ago.
