Co-founder of Fleximobility Linda Ling awarded MBE for services to people with disabilities

69-year-old Linda Ling, who helped set up Fleximobility, has been awarded the honour for her services to people with disabilities.

Mrs Ling has dedicated her 37-year career to helping people with mobility issues and is currently the managing director at Fleximobility.

The company provides Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) from its base at the West Oxfordshire Business Park in Carterton.

Mrs Ling said of her award: “I was very surprised and thrilled when I heard of my MBE honour.

“The worst bit was keeping the secret from my family and friends for six weeks.

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“I am hugely grateful to my husband Ken for supporting me all these years when I’ve been dashing around doing several jobs at a time.

“I would like to dedicate this award to my mum, to the memory of my grandson Harry Scott, and to all carers paid and unpaid.

“A wheelchair accessible vehicle can make a huge difference to the life of not only the wheelchair user but everyone around them.

“It is always the simple trips that make the most difference - the trips that most of us take for granted - such as going to the shops, dropping the kids off at school or going out for lunch.

“A well specified WAV can make going out so much easier again.”

Mrs Ling founded Fleximobility in 2008 and it is now the UK’s leading provider of WAVs.

The company supply accessible vehicles to care homes, charities and local authorities who provide transport for wheelchair users.

Vehicles at Fleximobility are available to buy, hire or lease, depending on what the customer’s requirements are.

Mrs Ling began her career as a sales administrator for Gowrings Mobility in Newbury at a time when the market for WAVs was much smaller than it is now.

Only 100 WAVs were sold nationally each year, compared with 10,000 per annum today.

Mrs Ling eventually became managing director of the company and was instrumental in the formation of the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters’ Association (WAVCA).

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Here she was chairwoman for five years and still represents the association as their secretary general.

During her time as chairwoman, Mrs Ling led a team which successfully lobbied the European Commission to recognise and include WAVs within European legislation.

Mrs Ling was also instrumental in the creation of the first official standards for WAVs in the UK in 2012.

After her time at Gowrings Mobility, Mrs Ling was a key player in the formation of the Organisation Européenne des Constructeurs de Véhicules Accessibles (OECVA), a trade association of European converters of WAVs.

OECVA was formed in order to enable the continuing production of WAVs to match people’s needs, while keeping in line with European legislation.

In addition to her professional work, Mrs Ling has served as an expert witness to the courts since 2015, advising and reporting on the optimum solutions for all types of personal mobility needs and requirements.

Mrs Ling joined the likes of film director Sam Mendes, who grew up in Oxford, in being recognised in the New Year Honours.

Mr Mendes was knighted for his services to Drama and his latest movie - 1917 - is set for release in the UK this Friday.

Mrs Ling was one of 22 recipients of an honour for their services to people with disabilities.

The honours system recognises people who have made achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour, but they must actively be still involved in what they’re being nominated for.

Whether someone gets an honour - and the honour they receive - is decided by an honours committee.

The committee’s recommendations are then passed on to the Prime Minister, before the Queen awards the honour. Honours are given out at New Year and in June.