John Fieldus Awarded MBE For His Work in Fundraising for SIA

Congratulations to John Fieldus on this well deserved honour and recognition.  SIA is absolutely thrilled that John's achievements have been recognised publicly.

John first started raising funds for SIA 26 years ago and has continued to do so to date apart from a short period when he went to Racing Welfare to do the same for them. During his time with SIA John has raised a vast sum of money, not least of all, raising £2 million in a capital appeal launched to build our purpose built centre, SIA House. Amazingly just three years after HRH The Princess Royal launched the appeal SIA moved into its new home – and this was all thanks to John and his persistence and tenacity in talking to potential funders who couldn't resist his persuasive manner!

John's motivation is not one of self-benefit but rather what can be achieved for others and it is this that makes him a person who is very hard to refuse when you are asked to do something or to part with something.  He is well known and respected amongst the racing fraternity and can count many as his personal friends.

The years have not been kind to John physically as problems associated with his spinal cord injury have developed. But he's a real fighter – four years ago when he fell in his kitchen, he broke his hip, which is a major problem to someone with the level of disability John has.  However, he continued his work and just a day after his accident he was on the telephone providing direction to fundraising from his hospital bed and not a day went by during his weeks in hospital that he did not speak to the SIA Fundraising Team. Over the past year, John has fought through ill health to put on some outstanding high-profile fundraising events in the form an FA Cup Ball, a Sports Dinner and a phenomenally successful Grand National Ball which on its own raised a net income of £146,000.

John has worked in one of the most demanding professions there is.  It has not just been his own ill health he has had to contend with - his wife Pamela has been seriously ill for several years now and John has been a tower of strength to her, supporting her all the way. John has not only been an outstanding selfless fundraiser, he has been a shining example of how to live life to the full with a major disability.

SIA is delighted that those who consider the giving of UK Honours have decided to recognise this exceptional man.