DIANNE Bennett has been honoured for over 30 years of loyal support by Bliss, the premature and sick baby charity.

The Haslemere mum was declared winner of the national 2016 Lifetime Support award in a dedicated ‘thank you’ ceremony held at Stratford-upon-Avon, last month.

A special, engraved glass memento commemorating the achievement was presented by Bliss chief executive Caroline Davey in front of an audience of over 100 specially invited guests.

Award-winners in eight different categories were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the work of Bliss across the UK with babies born premature or sick and their families.

Dianne became involved with Bliss after becoming mother to three premature babies.

Her oldest son Huw was born four weeks early – he now lectures in international relations at Cardiff University.

Her second son, Sam, was born 13 weeks early by emergency caesarean section after sudden onset of labour and sadly died at six hours old.

Then her daughter Carys was also born 13 weeks early. Despite weighing just 2lb 5oz and needing to spend 10 weeks in hospital, Carys flourished and is now doing post-doctoral research in geology at the University of Leicester.

After the devastation of losing Sam and the euphoria of bringing Carys home from hospital, Dianne wanted to do something to repay the huge debt of gratitude she felt for the excellent neonatal care her daughter had received.

She joined Bliss in 1984, quickly becoming a trustee – a role she fulfilled until 2006 while continuing to work as a French teacher at Bohunt School, in Liphook.

In 1985, Mrs Bennett started the Haslemere Bliss branch which was active for many years in raising funds and supporting Surrey families. Dianne continues to fundraise and organises Haslemere’s annual Charities Fair each November.

Haslemere’s BLISS branch launched a knitting scheme 28 years ago and this continues to thrive with 227 members currently drawn from the town and the three counties, of Surrey, West Sussex and East Hampshire.

Each year the knitters make hundreds of little cot covers, sets of clothes and Christmas stockings which are donated to hospitals all over the south of England and beyond.

Dianne said: “I am honoured to receive this award and very proud of what Bliss has achieved since I joined.

“The charity has made huge progress in fostering best practice in hospitals, funding research and supporting distressed parents.

Sadly too many babies are still born premature or needing extra care and Bliss can always count on my help to do the very best for them”.

Bliss chief executive Caroline Davey said: “I’m delighted to recognise the contribution Dianne has made to Bliss, from her early years on the board of trustees and establishing Haslemere branch to her ongoing passion for our work to support parents, and her amazing dedication to marshalling an army of Bliss knitters!

“Dianne has performed a wide variety of roles throughout the years, all of which have proved invaluable to Bliss, and we are thrilled to be celebrating her incredible contribution over the last 32 years with this award.”

For more information visit www.bliss.org.uk.