“Exceptional” Port Vale chair receives her OBE

Port Vale co-owner and chair Carol Shanahan has received her OBE at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

She received the honour from the Prince of Wales on Wednesday. Shanahan founded the charity the Hubb Foundation which supports children and families with food and activities during school holidays. During the pandemic, she turned the football club into a community hub, assisting thousands of families across Stoke-on-Trent for more than six months.

Carol is one of the most exceptional community leaders and business women in the UK – a key driver of community work in Stoke-on-Trent…

She brought together volunteers from the charity, local businesses and staff from Port Vale, plus its sister companies Synectics Solutions and Summit Hospitality, to deliver more than 350,000 meals to homes. She also supplied families with personal hygiene and cleaning products as well as providing dongles to those without WiFi, along with more than 6,500 children’s educational activity packs.

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis called Ms Shanahan a “true champion for the city”, adding: “Carol is one of the most exceptional community leaders and business women in the UK – a key driver of community work in Stoke-on-Trent.”

The city council leader, Abi Brown, said: “She is a wonderful advocate and ambassador for Stoke-on-Trent who has done amazing things in her time here and will continue to be an amazing inspiration and colleague for everyone working to improve the lives of people in our city.”