A RETIRED surgeon has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her tireless fundraising work for Kidderminster Hospital.

Dr Pamela Ball, aged 92, first moved to Britain from the West Indies after the Second World War and attended medical school in Durham, later moving to Bewdley in the 1950s.

She began work at the old Kidderminster Hospital in Mill Street in 1954, later transferring to Bewdley Road where she worked as an NHS plastic surgeon.

After retiring in 1997, Pamela quickly joined the hospital's League of Friends charity, where she has helped to raise money towards new equipment including a walk-in X-ray machine, a high-tech ageing simulation suit and upgraded facilities at the Millbrook Suite.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Advanced practitioner Caroline Teague shows Pamela Ball the upgraded equipment at Kidderminster Hospital’s imaging department in 2016

Pamela was also a prominent Save Kidderminster Hospital campaigner during the fight against the downgrading of services.

Despite an ongoing battle with bone marrow cancer, Pamela is still heavily involved with the Friends group and was elected president of the group in 2006.

A mother-of-three, Pamela also has five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Her late husband John Ball was also a well-respected Kidderminster doctor.

On receiving an MBE, Pamela said: "I was very surprised when I heard. These awards are given to one person but there are an awful lot of people who contribute.

"The League of Friends has raised a lot of money over the years, but it isn't just me. We're a large group of dedicated volunteers. We've all helped to fund equipment and new facilities that the trust just can't afford."

Pamela said The League of Friends are looking for more volunteers. Anyone interested in supporting the group can email info.khlof@btconnect.com or call 01562 67653.