A BROWNIE leader and hospital chief have been honoured by the Queen for their hard work.

Betty Clayton, who has served the 5th Chingford Brownies since 1969, was made a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's birthday honours list over the weekend.

The Tawnie Owl was recognised for her services to the Chingford community after stepping in to help run the group at the United Reformed Church in Buxton Road 43 years ago when her own daughter was a member.

Mrs Clayton, who lives in Heron Close, Buckhurst Hill, was shocked to find her hard work had been rewarded by the Queen.

She said: "I was absolutely staggered to hear about this. I'm very surprised and embarassed, I just enjoy volunteering for the Brownies so I don't really think it's the sort of thing that would be recognised like this."

The grandmother-of-three, who was a Brownie herself as a child, agreed to help out when the group was struggling to find adults to look after the 25 girls who came along each week, and she never looked back.

"It's incredibly enjoyable and I keep saying I'll retire but never do," she added.

Jane Davies, the deputy director of operations at Whipps Cross Hospital, was made an Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to healthcare.

The 56-year-old was honoured for her thriving volunteering programme in Whipps Cross, which sees 200 disadvantaged young people and retirees help out at the hospital, providing tea and coffee and manning the help desks.

Ms Davies said: “I’m incredibly pleased, I can’t stop smiling. I was shocked when I got the letter, I thought it was a parking ticket at first but it left me in tears. It’s wonderful to have my work recognised but I love volunteering, I will always do it.”

She is also a patron of the One North East alcohol addiction rehabilitation centre in Woodford Green, alongside MP Iain Duncan Smith.

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