Michael Mogan, who was key to the fundraising effort for the bid and delivery of UK City of Culture in Coventry, found out in June that he had been given the title in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list after more than 25 years of fundraising in the city.
But he fell ill with an infection just days before his trip to Buckingham Palace this month and faced a race against time to be fit to head down to London to collect the honour from the Duke of Cambridge.
However, thanks to the staff at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire he was given the all clear to make the journey and enjoy the once in a lifetime opportunity.
Michael, who made the trip with his wife, Karen, and twin daughters, Hattie and Alice, said: “I was so proud to receive the call earlier in the year to say I was being made an MBE and the whole family and I have been looking forward to the trip to the Palace.
“So when I fell ill, which left me on a drip for a few days, the whole trip was in doubt.
“I can’t thank the team at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire enough because they got me back to being well enough to make the trip. I wasn’t 100 per cent but felt strong enough to go, which my family were delighted about!
“It was such an unforgettable day. Prince William was charming – he told me the girls had behaved impeccably and that he’d enjoyed his recent visit to the city.
“The general reaction since the news broke about me being honoured with an MBE has been amazing and uplifting and, as I’ve said all along, it’s an award for all the organisations I’ve helped to fundraise for over the years.”
Michael grew up in Wyken and attended St John Fisher Catholic Primary School and Cardinal Wiseman School before studying at Lanchester Polytechnic.
He began his career as a fundraiser in 1992 with the ExtraCare Charitable Trust where he was part of a team that raised millions of pounds – including taking part in a parachute jump.
He moved to Coventry Cathedral in 1996 where he worked under David Burbidge DL CBE for the first time. He stayed there for 12 years but has also helped raise money for the Cathedral on a voluntary basis for which his efforts have been praised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.
Michael has since worked on behalf of the Armonico Consort before freelancing for a range of charities, often giving his time freely to the causes.
He joined Coventry University as its Head of Development and Alumni in 2012 and it was here that he was seconded to Coventry 2021 where he is Head of Fundraising, and that money raising effort is widely acknowledged as being a key contributor to the successful outcome.
