'I thought my BEM honour was a speeding ticket'

An 82-year-old postmistress awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) first thought the letter was a speeding fine.

Jenny Fell has worked as a part-time postmistress for 51 years and currently runs a Post Office from her home in the village of Hellidon, near Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Almost 20 people in the county featured in the King's New Year Honours, including Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle, who was appointed OBE.

Mrs Fell, recognised for her services to the local community, said she was surprised by the award and enjoyed the fact her job allowed her to meet so many people.

Mrs Fell said when the letter arrived she was busy, so her husband opened it.

"He opened it and he read the first line, and he said, 'I really think you should see this'," she explained.

"All I'd seen was the headline on the envelope which said 'On His Majesty's Service'.

"I thought I'd been a naughty girl behind the wheel and I'd either parked where I shouldn't or gone too fast.

"Then I read it and all I could say was, 'Oh wow'. It did come as a very pleasant shock."

Mrs Fell said when she first moved to the village about 60 years ago, the Post Office had been in the local pub.

A few years later, the Post Office wanted to move it to somebody's home.

She applied on a Monday morning, was interviewed in her home that afternoon and was given the job.

"I've been doing it ever since," she said.

"It did move from being in the hall to its present situation, but that's it and the hours have changed slightly, but I've always done 20 hours a week."

Others in Northamptonshire given honours include:

• Gary Andrew Hoffman, chair, Monzo Bank Holding Group Limited and Monzo Bank Limited, appointed CBE for services to the economy and to sport
• Dr Nathaniel Roger Blair Cary, forensic pathologist, appointed OBE for services to forensic pathology
• Prof Gurpreet Singh Jagpal, appointed OBE for services to enterprise, entrepreneurship education and policy
• Stuart Alexander Mackenzie Pringle, chief executive officer, Silverstone Circuit, appointed OBE for services to motorsport
• Jane Charlton-Jones appointed MBE for services to the community in Northamptonshire
• Michael Arthur Pardoe James, chief executive, Cardiff and Vale College, appointed MBE, for services to education and to future skills
• Stephen John Kelly, joint director of planning and economic development, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service, appointed MBE for services to town planning
• James Clark Noble appointed MBE for services to the community in Corby
• Rosalind Mary Stoddart, founder and artistic director, Fermynwoods Contemporary Art and Deep Roots Tall Trees, appointed MBE for services to the visual and performing arts
• Kerry Ann Alice Tear, safer prisons death in custody liaison administrator, HM Prison Littlehey, appointed MBE for services to care and wellbeing
• Susan Elizabeth Watson, home manager, Pytchley Court Care Home, appointed MBE for services to adult social care
• Teresa McCarthy-Dixon, founder of the McCarthy-Dixon Foundation appointed an honorary MBE for services to the community in Northamptonshire
• Lindsey Ann Carman is awarded a BEM for services to charitable fundraising
• Dorothy Anne Jones is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Northampton
• Robin Kenneth Marriott is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Northampton
• Debra Marie Scotting is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Warmington
• Pamela Weatherington is awarded a BEM for services to young people in Oundle, Northamptonshire
• Rosalind Mary Willatts is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Wilbarston, Northamptonshire

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