A BRAVE West Devon woman who recently overcame cancer has won a prestigious award for her achievements in business.
Caroline Mitchell, of Milton Combe, was the winner of the business category in this year?s Plymouth Women of Achievement awards, just a year after being diagnosed with lymphoma.
Caroline, who is the managing partner with Serpell Son and Davey solicitors in Plymouth, received her award at a glamorous ceremony held at the Plymouth Pavilions.
She said she was ?blown away? to be announced as the winner in her category.
?I was utterly stunned,? she said. ?I really didn?t expect to win but it was very nice. I was staggered because I felt the other finalists had done much more than me to deserve the award.?
Caroline started working life as a marine biologist, but decided on a change of direction after the birth of her two children, Guy and Abigail, now 21 and 20 years old.
She took a job as a trainee legal executive with Serpell Son and Davey, studying law in her spare time. She qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and took over as the firm?s managing partner.
Since then, she has modernised the management style and spearheaded various initiatives to obtain recognised standards such as the Legal Services Commission Specialist Quality Mark and the widely revered Investors in People award.
Her diagnosis with cancer last year did not prevent her from carrying out her managerial duties, and she worked tirelessly between chemotherapy sessions.
She said: ?The chemotherapy was very unpleasant and I lost all my hair, but I was determined not to let it interfere with my work. In the middle of it we had to do a legal aid audit, which kept me very busy.
?I?m really grateful for the fantastic care I received at Derriford hospital.?
Caroline has now made a full recovery from her illness and when she is not working she enjoys her hobbies of horse riding and singing in a choir.
Caroline was one of 24 finalists who attended the awards ceremony, having been shortlisted from hundreds of nominations.