PENSIONER Mary Coates has earned herself a civic award for looking after Stonehouse's older folk.
The 76-year-old widow was "the epitome of a volunteer", Stonehouse Annual Town Meeting and civic awards evening was told.
Town councillor Simon Lewis said: "She gives so much to this community. A busy week is a normal week for Mary."
Great-grandmother Mary was presented with the council's Person of the Year framed certificate.
Coun Lewis said many older residents lived alone so for them to be able to enjoy the social occasions Mary organised was the highlight of their week.
"It is thanks to the likes of Mary that we have these opportunities," he said.
Retired nurse Mary, who moved to Stonehouse in 1972, runs a fortnightly whist club and a pensioners' club at the Community Centre in Laburnum Walk.
She volunteered for some years at the Sue Ryder charity shop, helps with the Fair Shares time bank and assists at Stonehouse Lunch Club.
She said: "I do home visits, hospital visits when I can. I enjoy doing what I do to help other people, to help the older generation."
Fellow pensioner Betty Powell, who is in her 90s, was also honoured at the meeting as a person who had contributed to the wellbeing of the community over a number of years.
Awards also went to Millie Gardiner as Young Person Of the Year and to P&S Fruit and Veg as Business of the Year.
Highly commendeds included Dom Smith, Chelsey Peck and James Brown.
