The founder of the Cumbrian charity Sunbeams has been presented with an honorary fellowship from the University of Cumbria. 

Annie Mawson, who was born in Cleator Moor, founded Sunbeams Music Trust in 1992 to offer music therapy to disabled children and adults in the area.

Since 1994, Annie has performed at many prestigious venues throughout the UK, Europe, and America and, in 2000, she played and sang for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama at the World Peace Conference in Belfast.

From the first donation of £13.60 from her then eight-year-old niece, Rebecca, to £1million awards and numerous individual and company donations, the Sunbeams Music Centre was finally built at a cost of £2.7million and opened its doors in September 2016.

As a proud Cumbrian, Annie was thrilled to return to Carlisle Cathedral on Tuesday, November 21 to receive her honorary fellowship. 

She said: "I feel very honoured and very humble. I'm thrilled to bits for Sunbeams, our wonderful charity. I had no idea it was coming.

"I was delighted with the recognition for Sunbeams and for my family. It's just lovely to raise awareness for what we do for the underprivileged people of Cumbria."

Times and Star: Annie was all smiles on a lovely day at Carlisle CathedralAnnie was all smiles on a lovely day at Carlisle Cathedral (Image: University of Cumbria/Becker Photo Carlisle)

Sunbeams has been a huge part of Annie's life since 1992 and she hopes that it will continue to go from strength to strength as it approaches its 32nd anniversary. 

She said: "We deliver music therapy, throughout the county, and in our lovely Sunbeams music centre, to over 2000 people with disabilities every single month. We give our best to see the ability and not the disability, in everyone.

"We aim to transform their lives through music, but it's also great fun."

Annie gave an acceptance speech in front of the graduates at Carlisle Cathedral and urged those in the audience to 'never dumb down and always aim for the top.'

She said: "I was told I was too outrageous and eccentric to ever be employed to deliver music therapy. Look where we are today. I've got this wonderful fellowship to show for it. Always speak the truth with humility and dignity."