Mrs Julie Lawson

BEM DL

Julie Lawson was born in 1960 to Joan and Jack Platt and is the eldest of three children; she has two brothers. Her father was a Liverpool Docker/Crane Driver and Julie attended St Benet’s, Netherton then St Catherine’s Catholic High School for Girls. She is married to husband Ron; they have two sons Andrew, a Deputy Headmaster and Neil a qualified Solicitor – but currently a drummer in the Liverpool Band Red Rum Club.

Julie currently works for HMRC and has been a fundraiser since 2005 when her son Neil joined the Air Training Corps (Air Cadets).  Her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around this time, and this is when her fundraising snowballed from small events in the Cadet Hut, to larger events supporting those impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. In 2015 Julie organised her first Gala Ball raising much needed funds to support research into the causes of Dementia.

Julie has planned and delivered five fundraising Gala Balls, the biggest was in the Cunard Building and the 6th will be on Sat 17 Jun 23 at the Titanic Hotel. On a monthly basis she organises ‘Live at the Plaza’ a variety show at the local Cinema in Waterloo for people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Autism, and those who are socially isolated. Regularly attendance is between 200 and 250 and the Christmas Party that sees an average attendance of 500 people has for the last two years has been a sell-out.

julie-lawson-photo

Julie organises trips for people on the ‘Pride of Sefton’ Barge; Afternoon Tea is served and there is live entertainment during the three-hour trip.  The trips are free, and Julie fundraises to ensure that this is the case. She is very proud to have a great relationship with other fundraisers and charities to ensure that those who are impacted by illness and loneliness in Sefton have an opportunity to meet socially and enjoy what is on offer.

Julie’s outstanding work to the community of Sefton was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2021 when she received the British Empire Medal (BEM).  In July 2021 she was a part of the Merseyside group that met Her Majesty, The Late Queen at Manchester Cathedral. 

​Julie Lawson was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside in December 2022.