Well-known former Buxton jeweller honoured by the Queen for charity work
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Pat Holland began raising money for the hospice over 30 years ago - inspired to help others after the death of her first husband in an accident.
She later lost her son Paul, aged just 17, in a car accident and second husband Ivan Hill to cancer.
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Mum-of-seven Pat told how she first started charity work when she was eight or nine years old - baking cakes or making teddies for the church.
However she told how losing three members of her own family in tragic circumstances made her want to help others.
She said: “I’ve had a few knocks and it made me understand how vulnerable people need a bit of help.
“I think if you can help someone when they’re in a state then you have a duty to do it - and it makes you feel better yourself.”
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Grandmother-of-14 Pat, 72, - a thespian since the age of 20 - brought Manchester’s famous Halle Orchestra to Buxton Opera House six times - with all proceeds going to Blythe House.
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Apart from her work fundraising for Blythe House former jeweller Pat - who worked at Buxton’s J Sidebothams for 30 years - has organised various other campaigns over the years.
One included an opera gala at Chatsworth House to build a grain store for a village in Malawi.
And her scrap silver and gold appeal raised over £20,000 for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
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Speaking about the award – an MBE for services to the community – Pat described how she was in Morrisons when she spotted an email from the Cabinet Office which she at first dismissed as a scam.
She said: “I saw the email and thought ‘oh, it’s just one of those’ but when I phoned them and they said ‘yes, you’ve got an award’ I was shocked.
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“I’m extremely honoured but there are people who are far more worthy recipients.
“You get so much from fundraising because it makes you feel so good helping someone else - I’m a bit embarrassed by it all but it is a huge honour.”