FOUR local residents are among those who have been honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Ruby Ditcher, Brian Medhurst, Maureen Selley and Alan Skews have all received their Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to the community.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2017 recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people from across the UK.

Alan, who has been a post man and retained firefighter for Callington for 27 years after he left the Navy, said he was shocked and delighted to receive the BEM honour for services to the community in Callington.

On why he was possibly nominated for the honour, Alan said: ‘As a postman and retained firefighter I am someone they [local residents] see everyday and someone they can talk to and share their problems with, or I am a shoulder to cry on or have the odd laugh with.

‘I find this very humbling to receive this recognition and it’s lovely to have that recognition in the village.’

On receiving the honour for services to Tavistock and Callington, Ruby, who lives in Harrowbarrow, said she was completely overwhelmed: ‘You read about these things happening to other people but you never think it would happen to you. It is such an honour.’

Ruby said that her passion for volunteering started in 1965 when her husband was posted to Singapore and she began to help in the local community.

When the family left Singapore they moved to Mitcham outside of London and then to Tavistock where Ruby became involved in the local community and parish church.

‘I never expected to get a BEM, I just did what I did, and I still like to get involved, but at 89-years-old I just need a chair!

‘I burst into tears when I heard the news, I was quite emotional but I am very honoured.’

Brian Medhurst, chairman of the Yelverton Community Projects, heard the news back in May and said he was delighted. ‘Receiving this honour was a total surprise. We have been around for 20 years in Yelverton and five years ago we received the Queen’s Award for volunteer services to Yelverton.

‘We are still going strong as an organisation and I am delighted that the Queen has recognised us.

‘I am so surprised with this award but it really is a team effort.’

Maureen Selley, Yelverton, received her BEM for services to local history.