Ray’s MBE presentation to mark NHS’s 70th anniversary

RAY Allison MBE held a presentation on his award for services to the NHS at the Hartlepool care home where he lives.

The health service’s 70^th anniversary prompted Ray to explain about his MBE, which he was awarded by The Queen in the 2000 New Year Honours List.

The former maintenance joiner at Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust now lives at Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road.

He said: “I now felt this was the time to tell people about the work we did and how I got recognised for it. It was difficult to tell everyone but enjoyable.”

Ray spent 24 years working for the NHS in various roles and was nominated for the MBE by June Rogers, senior manager at Hartlepool Hospital at the time.

He was invited to Buckingham Palace for his Investiture, attending the ceremony with his wife Margaret and daughter Jane.

He said: “Everyone who was due to receive the honours were taken to a ballroom where they had to practice what to do in the ceremony.

“I was very nervous, shaking like a leaf, when my name was called. One of my football heroes, Brian Robson, was also there to receive an honour.

“The Queen stated that I was receiving the award for services to the NHS.”

Ray’s wife, Margaret added: “It was a wonderful day. It was a tremendous honour for my husband, who worked so hard for the NHS.

“Afterwards we went for lunch at a lovely restaurant on Trafalgar Square.”

The presentation at Queens Meadow Care Home, where Ray, 79, has lived since November 2017, included a video of the Investiture ceremony.

Home manager Julie Armstrong said: “Ray is such a modest man and he had never really explained how he got his MBE before.

“Due to this year being the 70^th anniversary of the NHS, he agreed to share the story of his achievement with his fellow residents and friends at the home.”