HILLSBOROUGH campaigner Margaret Aspinall was named a Mum of Year at a star-studded award ceremony.
The chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group was a guest of honour at the event in London’s Savoy Hotel yesterday.
Former Spice Girl Mel C collected the Celebrity Mum of the Year award at the ceremony, which she attended with her mum Joan O'Neill.
Margaret, whose 18-year-old son, James, died in the Hillsborough disaster, accepted the Tesco Campaigning Mum of the Year award on behalf of all the families who have spent the past 23 years fighting for justice.
Tesco bosses said the accolade was not just a recognition of the huge strides made following the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report in September last year, but of Margaret’s tireless campaigning work since the 1989 tragedy.
After receiving the honour, Margaret said: “We can’t get our loved ones back, but we can get what we achieved – which is the truth.
“I think it’s a good legacy to leave behind because this can never be allowed to happen again to anyone.”
Mel C said she was “really chuffed” with the prize, but admitted she does enjoy spending time away from her daughter.
The Widnes singer said: “Going to work sometimes is like a little bit of a break.
“Nothing is as hard as entertaining children all day long and taking care of them.”
However, the 39-year-old mum-of- one, who will travel to Australia later this year to perform in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, said balancing a career with being a mum does create issues.
She said: “It brings a whole new set of problems with the jigsaw puzzle of childcare and the guilt you feel from being away.
“So that’s interesting and it’s something you’re constantly working on, getting the balance right.”
The star, who gave birth to Scarlet four years ago, was one of seven women who picked up an award.
Other celebrities who attended the event included Liverpool actress Jennifer Ellison, Aigburth model Danielle Lloyd, who is pregnant with her third child, and X Factor finalist Rylan Clark.
He said: “I’m definitely one million percent a mummy’s boy. I love my mum to bits.”
