A WOMAN from Tytherington has been honoured by the Queen for services to her community – along with a dozen other individuals from Gloucestershire who made the list.

A total of 1,164 people found themselves on the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Though most of the attention will be drawn by famous faces like John Hurt and Esther Rantzen, many lesser known people were rewarded for hard work within their communities.

Joyce Vizard helped to open Tytherington Village Shop nearly 17 years ago. Selling a range of items from newspapers to groceries, and doubling as a post office, the shop quickly developed into an enormous asset to the community.

Now in her eighties, Joyce continues to work at the shop, only recently deciding to cut her hours. In the course of the past three years she has only had one morning off.

Though she is pleased to receive the British Empire Medal from the Queen, Joyce said she didn’t believe it would change anything, and only hopes that the store will continue to flourish.

She said: “I feel really honoured but I don’t like to make a fuss. The shop came about when they asked me if I would be able to take care of the newspapers and things, then once we got going we just carried on.

“I made up my mind from the start that it was going to work. Some people said it wouldn’t and I said it will if I have anything to do with it.

“It’s good for the village and something my family can be proud of but I don’t suppose it will make too much of a difference for me. I shall still be here carrying on.”

Another person who made a significant impact on the area and was honoured by the Queen with an MBE was founder and chief executive of Children’s Hospice South West Eddie Farwell.

It was Mr Farwell’s own experience of being a parent of three children, two of whom had life-limiting illnesses, gave him first hand insight into the vital care and respite that a children's hospice provides.

At the time his children were diagnosed, the only children's hospice in the UK was Helen House in Oxford.

The regular journey from his family home in North Devon was exhausting and so Children's Hospice South West was founded with a mission to provide a home from home – a caring environment that would be accessible to every child in our vast region.

Others on the list included Terence Parker, for his contribution to disabled tennis, and Robert Arthur Coles, for services to the Fire and Rescue service and the to the community in general.

Three quarters of the Honours given out went to those who worked within their community. 49 per cent of those receiving Honours were female.

Tytherington Village Shop will turn 17 in May this year.