Founder of Wildlife Hospital Honored with MBE, Dedicates Award to Team

Caroline Gould, the founder of an animal hospital, has expressed that her recently bestowed MBE is intended for “everybody else” involved with the charity, not solely for her. The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, established by Mrs. Gould in June 1984, has since provided care for countless animals found to be ill, injured, or orphaned. Mrs. Gould’s extensive contributions to wildlife rehabilitation were formally acknowledged by the Princess Royal during a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. She credited the success of the Beckford centre to its paid staff, volunteers, and public donations. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs. Gould remarked regarding her MBE: “It’s a huge honour on behalf of everybody here, and I think everyone’s pretty proud.” She further elaborated: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the charity that’s got it for the work that everybody’s done over more than 40 years.” Mrs. Gould attended the ceremony accompanied by her husband, daughter, and a friend, all of whom also work at the centre. She described having a “great day,” despite experiencing some initial nerves. “I was very nervous, but [Princess Anne] was great and chatty,” Mrs. Gould shared. She added: “They tell you how you should behave and that you bow your head. I tried to remember it all but it’s all a bit surreal when you’re in there.” The Vale Wildlife Hospital originated over four decades ago, when a veterinarian requested Mrs. Gould to care for an injured tawny owl at her family’s former residence in Cropthorne, Worcestershire. She stated that the MBE represents recognition of the charity’s collective work, emphasizing that it has been “a long, long time since it was just me.” Mrs. Gould commented: “I’ve been awarded it, but if it hadn’t been for everybody else, and there have been hundreds of people involved, then we wouldn’t have got to 40 years.” She concluded: “I’m very proud of everything that everybody has done here, and the work that we’re still doing now, and we hope to be able to continue that.”