THE man who founded the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has been awarded an MBE by the Queen.

Professor Ray Donnelly established the now internationally renowned charity from his hospital office while working as a surgeon.

Colleagues paid tribute to his “lifetime of devotion” to his work and to the sick.

Next April will see the 20th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Lung Cancer Fund, the original name of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, of which the professor is president.

Based in Liverpool, and Glasgow, the organisation is the only charity working wholly to defeat lung cancer.

Prof Donnelly, who was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife, Elizabeth, and two of his children, Philip and Anne, said meeting the Queen was a “wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

He was recognised for his voluntary services to healthcare.

Prof Donnelly said: “I am very pleased to receive this honour and would like to share it with all the people who have helped the foundation to achieve so much and to dedicate it to those lung cancer patients and their families whom we are there to serve.

“From very humble beginnings in my office at the hospital nearly 20 years ago, the foundation now has international recognition for its research, patient support and smoking prevention. It has made, and is still making, a significant contribution to the health of the nation.”