A MIRFIELD woman has been recognised for her services to the community.

Marjorie Hirst has been a leading light in the Townswomen’s Guild – helping to keep one branch going for years.

Now Mrs Hirst, 90, has been presented with the Townswoman of The Year Award by the organisation founded in 1929 to educate women in good citizenship after they won the vote.

Mrs Hirst, who was presented with her award in Birmingham by guild patron Princess Anne, said: “It is a huge honour to be deemed by the guild worthy of this award.”

She joined the guild in the 50s but had already carried out voluntary work including serving in the Women’s Voluntary Service (WRENs).

Her service there saw her typing the invasion orders for the D-day landings in Normandy.

She later spent 25 years working as the head teacher’s secretary at what is now Mirfield Free Grammar School.

She also served as a past chairman of the School Secretaries Association. Marjorie said: “At one time there were more than 200 members in the guild across three meetings and a waiting list.

“I remember when they had elections for the committee roles and they were never short of volunteers.”

She said the guild, at its peak in the 70s, divided activities to include keep fit, drama, social studies a craft section and even its own choir.

But it wasn’t until Mrs Hirst’s children had grown up that she started dedicating more time to running the guild where her organisational skills in her work as a school secretary proved invaluable.

She has served as chairwoman of the Mirfield branch and both chairwoman and secretary of the West Yorkshire Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds.

She added: “I have held the role of secretary for so many years now, I have just kept going as I don’t want the guild to close.”

Mrs Hirst was presented with an engraved silver salver and crystal bowl at the national meeting earlier this month.

The guild who fundraise for local charities meet monthly meetings at St Mary’s Church House, Mirfield.

For more information on the group contact Mrs Hirst on 01924 495594.