A CHURCH verger from Olveston is to be honoured by the Queen for more than four decades of devoted service.

June Robbins, who has been the verger of St Mary’s Church in Olveston for the past 43 years, will receive the Royal Maundy coin at a special Maundy Thursday ceremony on March 29.

The honour comes after the 84-year-old was nominated by the Archdeacon of Malmesbury with the support of the local vicar Revd Philip Rowe, in recognition of a lifetime of service to St Mary’s Church Olveston and her work in the wider community of the parish where she has lived for the past 62 years.

June will be one of 92 recipients of the coin – to match the Queen’s age – at a ceremony in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where she will be accompanied by her goddaughter Amy Fowler.

The tradition of the service sees the British monarch or a royal official ceremonially distribute small silver coins known as "Maundy money" as symbolic alms to elderly recipients.

June said: “When I got the letter from the Royal Almonry Office, I was very surprised, and couldn’t believe it.

“But of course it is true, and I am looking forward to the ceremony.”

Congregations are familiar with June in her formal capacity as verger with a maroon robe and bearing a verge staff at church services, but few of them know of the time the verger spends dealing with a host of essential practical actions needed before and after each regular service, to say nothing of weddings, baptisms and funerals, where June is an essential cog in the wheel.

In addition to her service as the Verger, June is a bellringer, sings in the church choir and has led many Wednesday assemblies in Olveston’s Church of England primary school. Every day, June ensures that St Mary’s Church remains open to the public, and is secured before night.

Revd Philip Rowe said: “The church was so pleased to hear that the nomination had been accepted because June has served the church so generously over decades. It is a well-deserved honour and we are all rightly proud of her.”

Archdeacon Christine Froude was so very pleased that this dedicated service has been recognised and has met June personally to congratulate her.