Shirley Steel, a well-known figure in Midsomer Norton, recently spent a very special day with her family as she was honoured by the Queen's representative, Lady Gass, with the British Empire Medal – for more than 67 years of voluntary service to the local area.

Sadly, she was unable to meet the Queen at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party due to ill health, but on 6th May, the Steel family travelled to Taunton for the next best thing, where Shirley was presented with the medal.

Unknown to her, Shirley's family and friends had begun the process of nominating her for the honour two years previously and had managed to keep it a secret. The first she heard of it was a letter received last November, from a Government Cabinet Officer, informing her that the Prime Minister was recommending her to the Queen for the New Year's Honour.

Despite dedicating so many years of her life to the local area and now being over eighty-years-old, Shirley shows no sign of slowing down. As reported in last week's Journal, she is now Secretary of the newly-formed Somer-Rail Trust, which hopes to bring trains back to Radstock, is the Vice-Chair for the local Dial-a-Ride, a Company Director and Trustee of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust and is still very much involved with the Midsomer Norton Community Association, which meets at the Somer Centre.

Shirley Steel began volunteering at the age of fourteen, with the Midsomer Norton Cub Pack, which she was involved with for 38 years. She has helped with the Girl Guides and sat on many a committee for the Dial-a-Ride, Sarah Ann Trust, Whisty Community Hall Association (twenty years), the Somer Centre and is a founder member of Radstock Museum and a supporter of Silver Street Nature Reserve. As well as being a mother of five, Shirley also ran the Palladium Cinema, in Midsomer Norton High Street, alongside her husband, Ken, for fifty years. She was one of the first people to be recognised by B&NES Council for their services to local democracy and public service, becoming an Honorary Alderman.

Shirley was also involved in setting up the Sarah Ann Trust, over thirty years ago, saving Midsomer Norton's Town Hall from threat of demolition. Sarah Ann was her great, great, great aunt, so she saw it as rather her 'duty' to protect and keep the hall running, which goes from strength to strength today.

Congratulations, Shirley and we all wish you a speedy recovery.