An Alsager woman who set up a community support centre more than seven years ago and who arranged for over 100 volunteers to keep the community going during Covid has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

Hard working Liz Pinkney, Manager of Alsager Support Centre, set up a befriending service in the town to help those who couldn't leave their homes or needed other support during Covid.

The project was such a success that many of the volunteers are still working for the centre and continuing with the service, offering their help and support in a range of ways.

Liz Pinkney

And today (Thursday) Liz is celebrating after being awarded the BEM for services to the community in Alsager during Covid-19.

Liz says she couldn't believe her eyes when she opened a letter at Derwent Close home from the Cabinet Office.

"It's a great honour, not just for me but for all the volunteers who helped with this work.

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"The award is for them too. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the letter telling me about the award about six weeks ago."

The medal will be presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire at a local ceremony in the future.

But it's not the only major event recently for Liz. She attended the Buckingham Palace garden party on May 18th with her husband Harold.

"It was a wonderful occasion and I feel very honoured have been invited. We saw Kate, Edward and Sophie."

Liz joins a host of other names today to be honoured in the Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours list in celebration of the Queen's unprecedented 70 years of service.

Joining the Queen with 70 years of public service are recipients Angela Redgrave, founder and Principal of the Bristol School of Dancing, who receives a BEM for services to Dance - and at 104 years old is the oldest person on the List - and 80 year old Patricia Anne Husselbee from Newport for her 64 years of service to the Royal British Legion.

The Jubilee Honours List also recognises the contribution made to youth engagement, as typified by 11 year old twins Elena and Ruben Evans-Guillen, who receive BEMs for raising nearly £50,000 directly for the NHS and NHS-related charities over the past three years, and who are the youngest recipients on the list.

Also among the youngest recipients is 22 year old Alex Griffiths, who receives a BEM for supporting carers, having been a young carer himself since the age of 5.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses. The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

"I pay tribute to all of this year's winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all."