British Empire Medal awarded to Bristol branch founder
A founder of the Huntington’s Disease Association Bristol branch has been awarded the British Empire Medal for not only 25 years hard work with the Bristol branch but for over 50 years collective service with charities in the UK.
Pamela Payne from Somerset was nominated for the award by her son. She said:
“My son nominated me for this award and I feel quite 'chuffed' that he feels I was worthy of a nomination. My medal will be presented to me by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset and I will get an invitation to the Palace Garden Party this summer, which I shall look forward to”.
Below, you can hear all about Pam’s story and what she did to deserve this award from the lady herself.
Pam’s story
“I'm pretty sure that being a founding member of Bristol branch, which was formed in 1997, and an original member of our support group, at 85 years of age I am probably the oldest in the branch! I have seen many come and go.
A support group was set up in Bristol some 25 years ago by an Occupational Therapist worker whose husband had Huntington’s in his family. My husband and I went along not knowing quite what to expect. We drank tea, ate biscuits, had a laugh, had a cry sometimes and held little raffles between ourselves, any profit from those going into the 'tea and biscuits' jar!!
My husband, Ted, was in a family of six brothers all of whom have passed away, with five definitely having had Huntington's disease. Of course, the family didn't know much about this disease in the early 1990s. We think Ted's mother had it but she had died in the early 1960s after being diagnosed with ‘premature senility’, what we might term as 'dementia' these days, but it could have been the onset of Huntington’s.
When the Bristol branch was formed in 1997 I became the branch secretary and remained so for about nine years, which I enjoyed very much. After that, I was still very involved in selling Christmas cards, draw tickets etc., which I am still able to help with today. Ted, my beloved husband, died in 2001 at Millaton Court, Launceston. There was nowhere near to me in the Bristol/Bath area at the time that could accommodate Ted. It was 130 miles drive to see him!
Before Huntington’s landed on our doorstep, I did voluntary charity work for the Leukaemia Research Fund (now known as Bloodwise), which lasted over 30 years, so altogether my involvement with charities has been for over 50 years. I now have three children. The youngest of them, Linda, is 52 years old and was diagnosed with Huntington’s four years ago. The older two decided not to take the test.
At my age, this award won't benefit me significantly but I am so thrilled to have it and, would you believe, I have had some congratulations cards/letters already addressed to ‘Mrs Pamela Payne BEM’.
How posh is that!!”
Congratulations to Pam for her years of hard work and well-deserved award.
If you have a Huntington’s disease story to tell and would like to be featured on our website, newsletters or social media, please email comms@hda.org.uk.
If you are affected by Huntington’s disease and need support or advice, please get in touch on 0151 331 5444 or email info@hda.org.uk.
A founder of the Huntington’s Disease Association Bristol branch has been awarded the British Empire Medal for not only 25 years hard work with the Bristol branch but for over 50 years collective service with charities in the UK.
Pamela Payne from Somerset was nominated for the award by her son. She said:
“My son nominated me for this award and I feel quite 'chuffed' that he feels I was worthy of a nomination. My medal will be presented to me by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset and I will get an invitation to the Palace Garden Party this summer, which I shall look forward to”.
Below, you can hear all about Pam’s story and what she did to deserve this award from the lady herself.
Pam’s story
“I'm pretty sure that being a founding member of Bristol branch, which was formed in 1997, and an original member of our support group, at 85 years of age I am probably the oldest in the branch! I have seen many come and go.
A support group was set up in Bristol some 25 years ago by an Occupational Therapist worker whose husband had Huntington’s in his family. My husband and I went along not knowing quite what to expect. We drank tea, ate biscuits, had a laugh, had a cry sometimes and held little raffles between ourselves, any profit from those going into the 'tea and biscuits' jar!!
My husband, Ted, was in a family of six brothers all of whom have passed away, with five definitely having had Huntington's disease. Of course, the family didn't know much about this disease in the early 1990s. We think Ted's mother had it but she had died in the early 1960s after being diagnosed with ‘premature senility’, what we might term as 'dementia' these days, but it could have been the onset of Huntington’s.
When the Bristol branch was formed in 1997 I became the branch secretary and remained so for about nine years, which I enjoyed very much. After that, I was still very involved in selling Christmas cards, draw tickets etc., which I am still able to help with today. Ted, my beloved husband, died in 2001 at Millaton Court, Launceston. There was nowhere near to me in the Bristol/Bath area at the time that could accommodate Ted. It was 130 miles drive to see him!
Before Huntington’s landed on our doorstep, I did voluntary charity work for the Leukaemia Research Fund (now known as Bloodwise), which lasted over 30 years, so altogether my involvement with charities has been for over 50 years. I now have three children. The youngest of them, Linda, is 52 years old and was diagnosed with Huntington’s four years ago. The older two decided not to take the test.
At my age, this award won't benefit me significantly but I am so thrilled to have it and, would you believe, I have had some congratulations cards/letters already addressed to ‘Mrs Pamela Payne BEM’.
How posh is that!!”
Congratulations to Pam for her years of hard work and well-deserved award.
If you have a Huntington’s disease story to tell and would like to be featured on our website, newsletters or social media, please email comms@hda.org.uk.
If you are affected by Huntington’s disease and need support or advice, please get in touch on 0151 331 5444 or email info@hda.org.uk.