VOLUNTEERING isn’t work for supergran Mary Francis, it’s fun.

The 72-year-old, who has been a Scout leader since she turned 18, took the top spot in May’s Gazette Community Hero award.

She received a trophy and £100 to mark her lifetime in Scouting.

The campaign heralds unsung heroes and is sponsored by Abellio Greater Anglia.

Mrs Francis, who lives in Stanway, said: “People like me do not do what we do for awards.

“We do it because it is fun. I love doing it.

“I have always said the minute you get bored, there is always another role for you in Scouting.”

Although the mum-of-three spent many years at the helm at the 17th Colchester Sea Scouts, these days she is best-known for as chairman of the organising committee at Thorrington Scout Camp.

For the last seven years – she was only meant to do two years – she has volunteered countless hours at the camp alongside husband Michael, helping with activities and to make sure the camp runs smoothly and is kept clean.

And as if more than 50 years volunteering with the Scouts wasn’t enough, Mrs Francis also completed 30 years as a magistrate, based at the former Magistrates’ Court, in High Street, Colchester, where she was also a youth bench member.

She has also been a trustee at drug and alcohol charity, Open Road, for 20 years and volunteers at King’s Ford Infants School , in Shrub End, once a week.

Humble Mrs Francis, whose camp T-shirt simply says ‘Supergran’, added: “Throughout my life, I have always had an interest and love of children.

“But Scouting has been my life really.

“It has never felt like work at all. It is fun.

“If you’re not having fun, then the children certainly aren’t having fun.”

But she warned she does not plan on doing it forever, despite admitting she finds it hard to switch off even when she is on holiday.

She said: “If I could find a replacement, I would be happy to go.

“That’s not because I’m fed up but because I think it’s good to have fresh thinking.

“I would never leave, though, I’d probably still be here every Wednesday because they are my extended family.

“Scouting is a family and like your own family, once you are in, you can’t really get out.”

Mrs Francis added she would not be keeping our prize money.

Instead, she will donate the cash to the £4.5million appeal, supported by the Gazette, to create a cancer centre in Colchester.