A volunteer has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for almost half a century of service to the scouting movement.
Lower Stondon resident Gillian Wood was awarded a BEM by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours List and was presented with it on Monday by Bedfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant Helen Nellis.
Mrs Wood has spent 49 years volunteering in the scouts and has held her current role, Bedfordshire District Secretary, for more than 20 years.
The 71-year-old said: “I am just bowled over by it all. I’m just an ordinary person doing an ordinary job.”
Mrs Wood is now looking for a hat in preparation to meeting the Queen at her annual garden party this summer at Buckingham Palace.
She added: “It will be a small thing that sits on the head with feathers in it. It’s quite the rage these days. After all, I have to live up to my new status.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here