Farnhill woman Maggie Tookey receives MBE (From Craven Herald)

Farnhill woman Maggie Tookey receives MBE

9:00am Sunday 28th October 2012 in News

A humanitarian aid worker from South Craven received the MBE at Buckingham Palace.

Former Aireville School teacher Maggie Tookey, from Farnhill, was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list to receive an MBE for her services to humanitarian aid.

Maggie, 61, was given the award by the Queen.

“The whole ceremony was amazing,” said Maggie. “I had no idea what to expect. It was a bit nerve-wracking with all the protocol, but everybody was nervous.

“When you turn up, you’re ready to go through the motions, but when you enter the ballroom and realise the grandeur of everything, it takes on more of a significance.

“It was a great experience and a really brilliant day.”

Maggie was recognised for her work with international relief agency Edinburgh Direct Aid over the past nine years.

Its volunteers work with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations to provide relief after major disasters, as well as carrying out their own programmes.

Maggie has helped out in Kosovo, Kenya, Palestine, Sri Lanka - after the tsunami - and Pakistan following its earthquake and floods.

She said the Queen told her “your work must be difficult and challenging”.

It is now back to work for Maggie, who is flying to Kenya this week to work on a project to help widows with Aids.