'The greatest honour' – Viv given Royal recognition for charity work

A charity champion from Sunderland has received Royal recognition for nearly 50 years of dedicated community work.

- by Tom Patterson

Viv Watts of Hope 4 Kidz received her OBE from the King with her family looking on.

Viv Watts, chief executive of Hope 4 Kidz, received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from King Charles at an investiture ceremony in Windsor Castle after raising millions of pounds for people and good causes in the city since 1977.

Hope 4 Kidz was established with the aim of giving children and young people a sense of hope for their future - supporting youngsters who require extra care, living with a serious or prolonged illness, or in need of respite from poverty or abuse.

The charity is also the Sunderland Echo's partner in the annual Christmas and Easter appeals.

She said: "An OBE was never something I thought I would receive, but I'll never forget it.

"The greatest honour was to receive it from King Charles at Windsor Castle."

She added: "He was very warm and welcoming and immediately put me at ease.