By Claire Cooper

When an official looking envelope, complete with Royal crest, dropped through the letterbox at Paul Ramsbottom’s home in Appledore Gardens he didn’t rush to open it.

“I assumed I’d got a speeding ticket,” said Paul. “My wife Karen was in hospital at the time, so I was distracted and didn’t really give it much thought.”

But, much to Paul’s surprise, the letter brought the news that he had been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

“It was a bolt from the blue,” said Paul. “I was surprised, shocked but deeply honoured. It’s a great way to start the New Year.”

Paul, who is Chief Executive of the
Wolfson Foundation, has been given the
honour for services to charity. The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant making charity which provides funding programmes
and activities to improve the civic health of society though education and research.

As well as his Chief Executive role at the Wolfson Foundation, and its sister charity the Wolfson Family Charitable Trust, until recently Paul also chaired the Foundation Forum, a network for CEOs of trusts and foundations.

Outside of his professional life he has an interest in international development. For over a decade he has been the Chair of the Savannah Education Trust – a charity that he helped found – which provides Christian schools in the villages of northern Ghana. He is also a Trustee of Mercy Ships UK, an organisation that deploys hospital ships to some of the poorest countries in the world.

“I see the honour very much as a reflection on the outstanding teamwork of the wonderful staff and trustees at the Wolfson Foundation,” said Paul.

“I feel privileged to be part of the charity sector and to work closely with a wide range of inspiring organisations.”

After receiving the news in November, Paul had
to keep it secret until the official announcement in December. “Karen and I shared the news with our two older daughters, Lily and Ella, when the letter arrived, and we just about managed to keep it secret,” said Paul. “We told the younger children Phoebe and Annie a few days before the announcement.

“All the girls are really excited, particularly when they discovered that my OBE entitles them to get married in St Paul’s Cathedral!”

Paul, who began working at the Foundation as a Grants Assistant in 1998, working his way up to Chief Executive, is now waiting for the date of his visit to the Palace. “Karen is definitely coming with me,” said Paul. “And, if I can take a further two guests, my parents will be coming too.”

He’s also looking forward to rubbing shoulders with other recipients. “I saw there were a few England cricketers on the honours list, so I’m hoping I might to get to meet some of them too!”