The couple, who live near Alresford, set up the Murray Parish Trust after the death of their baby daughter Ella-Jayne in 2009. The charity has raised more than £4 million for paediatric care at Southampton General Hospital.
The MBE symbolises their far-sighted dedication to somehow bring some good out of personal tragedy. There are many children alive today thanks to what they have done.
In Hampshire there are hundreds of charities quietly going about their work in all sectors of society with little fanfare. But it is fair to say that without them our communities would start to crumble. They are one of the glues that bind us all together. Relatively few people receive honours from the monarch but the Chronicle salutes and values them all.
As the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) states: “The Covid-19 pandemic encouraged many of us to take a closer look at our local communities and to consider how we can make a difference. Giving to charity, and particularly locally, can be a powerful way to invest in the people and places that make up our everyday lives.”
But just as important as the benefit to our communities, charity work and contributing to good causes is important to people’s mental well-being too. It makes us feel good and that is important in this stressful time.
The CAF says research has shown that the UK is the third most generous country for charity donations.
On that positive note the Hampshire Chronicle wishes all its readers and advertisers a Happy New Year.