Elizabeth (Liz) Hallett was born and grew up in Beverley.
For almost 30 years she was one of the local District Nursing Sisters. When she was 7 years of age and a brownie, she had her first taste of fundraising when her dad made her a box to go on the back of her bicycle and she wrote letters asking people to donate paperback books for the Blue Peter RNLI inshore lifeboat appeal.
The following year on a holiday to Cornwall, her parents took her to St Agnes where one of the lifeboats was stationed and by chance, the lifeboatmen were there and allowed her to go on board. As a seven-year-old, she was so proud and convinced that she had bought it single-handedly and that moment has stayed with her for the rest of her life,
For 32 years Liz was the Brown Owl of Swinemoor brownie pack in Beverley and also served as the district commissioner for the Norwood area. She also helped with Tickton rainbows and brownies.
Liz was a member of the Tickton Sports Association in the 1980s and 90s, which worked hard to raise money and secure funding to build tennis courts and other sporting equipment in the village.
She was the President of Tickton Countrywomen for many years and ran village outings which were enjoyed by villagers of all ages. They went to the North Yorkshire moors, Chatsworth, and the Peak District. Christmas shopping trips etc. and many villagers still remember the happy times they had.
Liz loves animals and can often be seen around the village with her two greyhounds Polly and Bella and many of the children know her as’ the greyhound lady’. Liz is a keen supporter of the Hull greyhound rescue and collects duvets, to be used as bedding for the dogs. In lockdown, she and Tilly Taylor- Wilson and with the help of Tilly’s family created a fairy garden at Liz’s home and it continues to raise money for the dogs.
She is also a volunteer scanner with the Scarborough, Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley lost and found group. This involves searching for lost animals and scanning found animals so that they can be reunited with their owners.
Liz has twice been President and is currently the Treasurer and fundraiser of Soroptimist International of Beverley and District, which is an organisation of women who use their special life skills to advance the status of women and to try and make the world a better place. Liz has been instrumental in raising almost £50,000 in recent years for charities, all of which benefit the people of Beverley and the East Riding.
Money was raised at a variety of events including fashion shows, garage sales, coffee mornings, afternoon teas, boxed suppers, race nights car boot sales and market stalls. The charities supported included Guide dogs for the blind, Beverley, buying syringe drivers and pressure relieving mattresses for the use of terminally ill patients in Beverley and surrounding villages, Dove house hospice, Yorkshire Air ambulance, Yorkshire cancer, Macmillan urology at Castle hill hospital, Dementia east Riding, Marie curie, Sight support Hull and East riding, the Preston road women’s Centre, which supports victims of abuse and also buying equipment for the da Vinci machine at Castle hill to enable it to be used for difficult surgery for prostate and bowel cancer.
Apart from all this Liz is a constant source of help to people in the village and often steps in to help the elderly and infirm. She helps with the church garden and also at the church garden party. She was also instrumental in securing funding for the social group, for people with learning disabilities which meets at Millers in Beverley.
Following the death of her father 14 years ago, Liz cared for her mum and could often be seen pushing her around the town in her wheelchair. Sadly, she and also Liz’s husband Graham both passed away in the last 18 months.
Liz also suffered from deteriorating eyesight problems and for long periods has been unable to drive.
When asked for her reaction to the British Empire Medal award, she said;
“I can’t believe it. Knowing that there are so many good, kind people out there, making their own contributions to the local community, I feel very humbled and proud to be awarded the BEM. It is an absolute honour and I am delighted.”
“I have met so many wonderful people whilst volunteering, many of whom have become good friends and this award is not just for me, it is for members of Soroptimist International of Beverley, the people of Tickton who have supported me over the years.”
“It is also for my mum and dad, Barbara and Edwin Webster and for my husband Graham who died a year ago and was the driving force behind all the fundraising. They would have been so proud.”
