Dedicated fundraiser Regina is royally rewarded

On her first day she was simply asked to help wash up but instead she rolled her sleeves up and began fundraising work which has become a labour of love.

Now the 84-year-old is celebrating, having been honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours today.

She has received the award for charitable services in Leeds.

“I never imagined that from my modest beginnings I would receive such a prestigious award. It’s a great thrill, I’m deeply humbled and very honoured,” she said.

Her involvement with the Donisthorpe Hall care home began with a train journey to Sheffield in 1964, where Mrs Waldman was approached by an existing volunteer who asked if she would be interested in helping out during her spare time.

“I said I’d give it a go and from the very first day I walked into Donisthorpe Hall I felt I was in my second home,” she said. “The place drew me like a magnet.”

On her first day she was asked why she was so dressed up as all she would be doing was helping to wash up. But Mrs Waldman had other ideas.

She said: “I told them ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not washing up, I’ve spent all my life washing up I’m here to raise money.”

Her fundraising started when it was suggested she help out at Sunday afternoon teas when an appeal for donations from visitors was usually made.

She added: “I said that I’d like that, and on the following Sunday afternoon I turned up for duty.

“I collected £100, a considerable sum of money. I got the job fund-raising and that started me off.”

Mrs Waldman has since spent 47 years raising funds.

Her work has helped provide the home with new lifts, a fleet of wheelchairs, a cinema, a new entrance and a sensory garden.

Mrs Waldman paid tribute to her devoted family, to London-based daughter Linda Plant and three grandsons, Ashley, Robert and Jak.

She said: “They are my life and have kept me going through thick and thin. I’m so proud to receive this award and grateful that my wonderful family can share my joy.”

Mrs Waldman was among a raft of volunteers and unsung heroes from around Yorkshire who have been honoured for their dedication to their jobs, good causes or their communities.

These include Ann Shelton, from Ilkley, who has played a key role in the fight against cancer in the region. She has received an MBE for services to the community in West Yorkshire.

For almost half a century she has being worked with cancer charities. In that time she has helped to raise more than £1m for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal and its predecessor, the Cookridge Cancer Centre Appeal, through the promotion of 14 annual gala balls.

Mrs Shelton, who formerly lived at Bramhope, first became involved in fundraising when she helped launch the Leeds Cancer Relief Committee – forerunner to Macmillan Cancer Relief – back in the 1960s.

Since then she has worked as a volunteer at the former Cookridge Hospital, while being a key member of a number of major fund-raising committees supporting both cancer appeals in their quest to raise £3m and £10m respectively.

Once Cookridge Hospital closed and services transferred three years ago to the £250m Yorkshire Cancer Centre at St James’s Institute of Oncology, she maintained her fundraising work.

She said: “We are fortunate to have such a wonderful cancer centre in Leeds serving more than two million people from across Yorkshire.

“I hope this honour gives further recognition to the excellent clinical care that is provided by its wonderful team of staff.”

Michael Wallace from Northallerton was among the volunteers honoured. Since retiring from teaching in 1992 at Ripon Grammar he has devoted his time a Friend of the National Railway Museum in York.

His work supporting the museum has seen him earn an MBE for voluntary service.

He said: “I am so surprised because I am just doing the same sort thing that every volunteer does. I suppose this is like a long service medal for my work.”