Baughurst businesswoman Dr Liz Jackson, who launched business after losing her sight, praised for her charitable work

A Baughurst businesswoman has been honoured for her charity work by the Loddon Valley Lions.

Dr Liz Jackson MBE, who lost her sight at the age of 26, set up her own business in telemarketing in 1998 and in 2007, was awarded the MBE for her contribution to the world of business.

Mrs Jackson, who is currently a governor of the Hurst School, where she completed her secondary education, was the keynote speaker at the Lions Convention, which saw the Loddon Valley Lions – which serves Tadley and the surrounding area – and 55 other Lions clubs of southern England gather.

She was introduced to the convention by Judith Goodchild from Tadley, who told of her remarkable story.

Mrs Jackson, a director at BCMS, then captivated the convention attendees by not only talking about the work of the Snowdrop Foundation – which is based in Kingsclere and collects donations to relieve poverty, distress or suffering in the UK, India, Nepal and Africa – but also her life story.

In thanking Mrs Jackson for attending the convention and inspiring the Lions present with her story, John Goodchild from Loddon Valley Lions Club, said that his Lions Club had been equally inspired when she had visited them in November 2021 to talk about the work of the Snowdrop Foundation, to the extent that their president, Vanessa Tolson-Goddard from Baughurst, now volunteered some of her time at The Safe in Basingstoke – one of Snowdrop’s projects.

Mr Goodchild then went on to say that Loddon Valley Lions had been particularly impressed with Mrs Jackson's attitude to life, in coming through adversity and living a life to support others.

Because of her attitude and charitable contribution to the community through the Snowdrop Foundation, Mr Goodchild requested the principal convention guest Daniel Isenrich, from Munich – a member of the board of directors of Lions Clubs International – award a Melvin Jones Fellowship to Mrs Jackson.

The fellowship is the highest award a Lions Club can bestow on a citizen in recognition of their humanitarian work in the community, and it’s now recognised worldwide for this purpose, both within and outside the world of Lions.

The award is named after Melvin Jones, who founded the International Association of Lions Clubs, now better known as Lions Clubs International in 1917, although Lions Clubs did not appear in the UK until 1950.

Mrs Jackson then received a lengthy standing ovation from the convention attendees.