Senior neo-natal nurse Lynda Coulter from Chester picks up MBE award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace

Jun 11 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

A NURSE who has helped thousands of Chester babies back to health received her MBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Senior nurse Lynda Coulter, 58, of Gawer Park, Chester, who works at the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital, was honoured for her work founding and running the Human Milk Bank.

The project uses healthy breast milk from volunteer donors to feed sick babies.

With an orchestra playing in the background in the grand hall, Lynda stepped up on Thursday to allow the Prince to attach the MBE medal to her top as her husband and son looked on.

“He looked at me under the brim of my hat. He was very nice,” Lynda said.

“He said ‘I hear you’ve opened a milk bank, very well done, keep up the good work’.”

Lynda received her MBE alongside people like Gill Hicks, who lost both her legs in the July 7 London bombings and Olympic gold medal-winning 400m sprinter Christine Ohuruogu as the Prince got through 104 people in 80 minutes.

Lynda added: “It was such a wonderful experience – I just felt really special.

“It was lovely and my little medal is really nice.

“As you walk into those gates you feel really special.”

Every year for the past six years, Lynda and her colleagues have overseen the treatment of more than 300 Chester- born babies who need the Special Care Baby Unit’s support.

Together with her dedicated team of staff, Lynda – who moved to the Countess 18 years ago – has nursed thousands of Cheshire babies to health.

After Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson became patron of the Milk Bank last year, Lynda joked: “Now we’ve got the two Royal approvals!”