A woman devoted to her “lovely community” has received an MBE after being nominated in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. 

Carol Chorley, 81, from Sarratt in Hertfordshire learned of her award for “services to her community” on June 9. 

Carol, who was born in Dorset but grew up in Devon, has lived in Sarratt for thirty years having briefly lived in Chorleywood and has been a dedicated supporter of various community initiatives throughout the years, including being a member of the British Legion, a committee member for Cancer Research UK, a member of the Sarratt evening WI committee for many years and a village hall committee member since the mid-90’s.

Carol said her main concern in recent years has been her involvement with the Days Charity as a trustee and chairperson which she has dutifully held for ten years and being chairperson of Sarratt Care where she has historically organised lunches, coffee mornings and transport for the elderly. 

Carol is also on the committee for a community magazine called Spotlight focusing a variety of matters concerning Sarratt, from events to births, marriages and deaths. 

She said: “I received a letter from the cabinet office saying the Prime Minister had recommended that I be awarded and MBE by the Queen, which I accepted.

“I couldn’t tell my family until it became public, but I feel very excited to have been awarded. I am truly privileged. 

“You do these things not expecting a reward, but I enjoy helping people.

I am on my own now and I have a family but my life in the village takes up a big chunk of my time and I have met lots of lovely people over the years. It’s a lovely community.”

Carol has two children, Julia and Adrian, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She married her husband John in 1961 who passed away in 1999. She trained as a primary teacher.