Tributes paid to Swansea's 'fiery' charity stalwart

A MUCH-LOVED charity stalwart who raised more than £500,000 for a Swansea hospital has died.

Edna Carlsen MBE worked for Swansea's Singleton Hospital for more than 40 years.

The 78-year-old died on Wednesday, October 24, and is survived by her husband of 59 years, Graham, as well as her three children and two grandchildren.

Mrs Carlsen's son Paul said his mother came from humble beginnings in the Hafod area.

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The 57-year-old has himself spent the past 11 years working on the switchboard of Singleton Hospital and said: "She was extremely honest, she was firey and she would get things done.

"That is why we were so proud of her receiving her MBE."

Mrs Carlsen was presented with an MBE for her services to charity by Prince Charles at Cardiff Castle in 1993.

Her son joined his mother and father and sister, Lesley Hall, to witness the ceremony almost 20 years ago.

He added: "We were incredibly proud.

"She looked beautiful and she was very nervous.

"She chatted with Prince Charles, the Welsh Guards played, it was a very memorable day."

Mrs Carlsen began her working life at Singleton Hospital as a ward hostess before progressing to the post of theatre receptionist, which she held before she retired.

The mother-of-three and grandmother once ran a shop on Morgan Street in Hafod, for around four years.

Mrs Carlsen had been ill for years with emphysema and spent a week in hospital before returning to her Sketty Green home, where she died two weeks later.

Her son Paul said: "It was very sudden but, although she had been ill for quite a while, she was very brave with it.

"She came from very humbling beginnings and worked and worked. She was highly thought of."

A funeral will be held for Mrs Carlsen on Tuesday next week at St Paul's Church in Sketty.

Donations are requested to the children's charity Latch which works with youngsters diagnosed with cancer.