HE may have left the North East as a young man but grandfather Donald Bailey has never forgotten his roots, dedicating his retirement to raising funds for the region’s hospitals.
Through his love of golf, the 80- year-old grandfather-of-two has raised thousands for hospitals in Newcastle and in his new home of Hertfordshire.
Now Mr Bailey, who grew up in Whitley Bay, has been recognised for his decades of fundraising after being awarded an MBE for Charitable Services in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Mr Bailey has helped raise thousands for a wide range of worthy causes through unique golf tournaments he organised for golfers who had undergone heart surgery.
Mr Bailey, who worked with global brand Heinz after coming out of National Service, became heavily involved with charity work after taking early retirement at the age of 55.
Before retiring Mr Bailey, who moved to Watford in Hertfordshire, had undergone three heart bypasses after developing heart disease and when he started doing charity work he decided to raise money for heart-related causes.
As a keen golfer, starting initially at Whitley Bay Golf Club and later becoming club captain for West Herts Golf Club in 1987, he decided to use his knowledge of golf to start golf tournament fundraisers.
“I got totally immersed in it and fundraising for charity,” said Mr Bailey, who lives with his wife of 50 years, Susan.
A golf tournament in 1987, The Quality of Life Tournament, raised £80,000 in one day, and subsequent competitions each year recorded the highest number of golfers with heart conditions playing in one tournament.
Funds were used for life-saving equipment for Harefield hospital, where he underwent surgery, and hospitals in Bristol and Newcastle.
“No one had ever seen so many golfers who had had heart surgery come together, four were transplant patients,” said Mr Bailey.
Mr Bailey, who has dedicated himself to the charity world for the last 25 years, said it had been an honour to be named on the New Year list for an MBE.
He said: “I was excited and very humbled as well when I found out about the MBE because of the services others are doing.
“You can feel terribly small against that. The charity world is a great one and I have met some wonderful people. I really found a new career in this world which is very very rewarding.
“It is a pleasure to receive an MBE but I am very humbled as well as excited.”
Mr Bailey, who represented Northumberland in Junior Wimbledon in 1950, has also worked hard fundraising for the Spinal Injuries Trust whose patron was the late Princess of Wales.
He and his wife Susan have recently moved to Petersfield in Hampshire to be closer to their daughter Jane, her husband Grant and their grandchildren George and Charlotte.
They hope to journey to London in the first half of this year so Mr Bailey can receive his MBE from the Queen.
Friend and fellow golfer Ken Connelly described Mr Bailey as “one of the finest ambassadors the North East has ever produced”.
