Amputee lawyer honoured for charity work
Honorary doctorate for Olivia Giles from her home town university
Olivia Giles, the solicitor who dedicated herself to health awareness and charity fundraising after losing her hands and feet through an attack of meningitis, was awarded an honorary degree yesterday for her efforts in public life.
Ms Giles received an honorary doctorate from the University of Paisley, the town where she lived for her first seven years.
In February 2002 Ms Giles, then a successful commercial property lawyer, was struck down by meningitis. The condition was not initially diagnosed and by the time she was taken to hospital, surgeons were forced to amputate both hands and both feet to save her life.
Having learned to adapt to prosthetic limbs, Ms Giles committed herself to raising public awareness of meningitis and its symptoms, and fundraising for meningitis charities. Along with fellow amputee Jamie McAndrew, she has recently also set up the charity 500 Miles to help rehabilitate amputees in poorer countries.
Dr Tony Clarke, Vice Principal of the University of Paisley, described Ms Giles at yesterday's ceremony as "a person of great courage and commitment and an inspiration to others". She had, he added, made a significant contribution to Scottish public life.
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