PATRON of several Tavistock organisations, Angela Rippon, has been recognised for her charitable work after being made a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) as revealed in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Angela, who grew up in the Tavistock area, is patron of Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS), Tavistock Stannary Brass Band and the Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance. She also officially opened the new Tavistock over 55’s rest room Rest A While last month.

She was given the accolade for her outstanding contribution to charity work in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Angela said of the achievement: ‘This award is such a huge honour. It’s also confirmation that all the hard work that’s been done by thousands of Alzheimer’s Society volunteers all over the country is really making a difference to the lives of those individuals and families who are living with dementia.

‘No one who volunteers for any charity ever does so in the expectation that they will receive any kind of honour or recognition. We do it to put something back into our communities and hopefully to make a difference. So I am humbled and privileged to think that the team with whom I work on the Prime Minister’s committee to create dementia friendly communities nationwide, feel that I have, in some small way, made a difference — and will continue to do so.’