A pensioner who credits volunteering with making her retirement ‘lovely’ has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Patricia Brian, 77, is being recognised for her service to the Frodsham and Helsby communities, but insists that there are lots of others who do the same.

A Frodsham resident, Patricia has worked tirelessly with a number of voluntary groups since she retired 17 years ago, having worked for her husband Ian’s business as a book-keeper.

She said she received a letter informing her of the honour ‘out of the blue’ a few weeks ago and ‘could not believe it’.

Between 2001 and 2006 and again from 2009 to 2013, she was branch leader of the Mothers’ Union in Helsby and since 2004 she has been a trustee of the Chester Diocese Mothers’ Union.

Another project she has supported is the Bridge Foyer Project in Chester, a refuge that looks after young homeless teenagers, teaching them to budget, cook and look after themselves.

She has taught service users to cook and budget for food.

Patricia ensures that knitting and toiletries are taken to victims of domestic violence in Ellesmere Port and Clare House Children’s Hospice, a nearby unit for children with cancer where the knitting is sold at open days to fundraise.

She also cooks for Springfield Residential Home each fortnight and since 2009, she has organised a crèche at the Young Offenders Prison at Thorncross so that the relatives of offenders can spend time with them.

With knitting a favourite hobby of hers, the mother-of-two has inspired her team to knit for premature babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and has fundraised for the baby unit.

Patricia told the Chronicle: “I do all these things but other people do them as well. I just enjoy volunteering – I have made a lot of friends and met some truly lovely people.

“It is just nice to do these things and it’s nice that it’s appreciated. It has been a lovely retirement.”

Patricia will be presented with her British Empire Medal at a local ceremony and will be invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace next year.

“It is all very exciting – I will have to buy a hat,” she added.