At the end of January, we were sad to hear of the death of Nicolette Peel MBE. She was involved in campaigning for better awareness of cancer in pregnancy, and became a midwife as well as helping found the charity Mummy’s Star. Here Pete Wallroth, CEO and founder of the charity, shares some of her story.
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Nicolette Peel MBE (1972-2023)
Nicolette Peel MBE, midwife, charity founder and campaigner, sadly died on Tuesday 31st January 2023.
She was wife to James and mother to Joe, Ella and Frankie.
A relentless campaigner for better awareness around cancer diagnosis in and around pregnancy, Nicolette helped found the charity Mummy’s Star in 2013 while at the same time retraining as a midwife from previous roles in education.
Nicolette’s outlook was shaped by her own diagnosis shortly after the birth of her third child and then a chance meeting with the co-founders late wife Mair, which saw a determination emerge to ensure other women didn’t feel the same isolation upon diagnosis they had.
As a student midwife at the RCM conference in 2015 she gained widespread praise for her idea that we should have a crossover role within the NHS of a cancer specialist midwife to help those in this unique situation.
In 2016 she won the RCM President’s Volunteer Award and the same year she took to the stage at the RCM conference to share the work of the charity and its message.
The educator in her pressed for access for others to training, and she helped prepare a cancer and pregnancy specific RCM training module which is available today.
Nicolette’s influence in this area led to Mummy’s Star making education a mainstay of its activities, providing regular guest lectures and study days for student midwives on a national level.
Despite developing secondary breast cancer shortly after qualifying as a midwife in 2018, she continued in her role with the same passion and determination, supporting those in her care and those families at Mummy’s Star.
She was the recipient of the Chief Midwifery Officer’s Gold Award, presented by Prof Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England – only the third time the accolade had been awarded.
She was awarded MBE in 2019 and also received the Kate Granger award for compassionate care.
Nicolette was a champion for women and birthing people in life and this impact will continue beyond.
Her husband, James Peel, has set up a donation page in aid of Mummy’s Star and Willow Wood Hospice if you would like to give in her memory https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/nicolette?utm_campaign=sharepage&utm_source=Dsharesocial&utm_medium=Dshare_fbPost&utm_content=fundraisingpage&utm_term=20230207&fbclid=IwAR33Ues01YMPTl6mKzqDZBRyWEWfFYJLiUz_siIX_Xv5CiUlLLYFygwZq3M
Pete Wallroth (he/him)
CEO/Founder
Mummy’s Star