I gained the Gold Award in 1966; having been one of the first 100 women. Coming from a background of deprivation when being an only child of a single parent, stigma became the watchword.; I was determined to prove things to myself and that despite the odds, I could believe in myself.

The strengths of determination, tenacity, and skills in leadership were to stand me in good stead over the years; when having two disabled children of my own, I was to need those skills in fighting for their rights.

There can be no one single challenge, as completing the Award was a challenge in itself. Having said that I later did an Open University Degree, and at the age of 47 go full time to University to do a Master's Degree (in Social Work), developing many socially minded projects in the process.

I could not have done this without the self-belief gained via His Royal Highness.