A COMMUNITY stalwart has told of how ‘humbled’ she is to have been awarded a British Empire Medal.

Lorna Key, of Little Totham, has been given the royal recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced on Friday for her community services to the village.

The medal is awarded to those who have given exceptional civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.

Mrs Key formerlly worked for Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils, as well as being a teacher in Uganda before retiring 25-years-ago, and has lived in the village for more than 30 years.

She said: “I was extremely surprised, but it was a nice surprise, not many of them are.

“It’s very humbling indeed, but I’m more pleased for the village as a whole, the work I’ve helped with has been a team effort.

“I’ve helped co-ordinate a lot of grants for the residents, such as one for a community shed which has stored equipment for village people. We’re a small village, we only have the church and pub, so anything we as a volunteer group do helps the community.

“I’m very lucky to be in good health and have some very good friends, and to receive this is a little embarrassing as I never expected to be worthy of it, but also very humbling.