A LAUNCESTON lady with a heart of gold has been awarded the MBE for services to the community in the New Year's Honours List — to the delight of residents of the town.

Miss Mary Butler (right) a member of the Salvation Army since the age of 13, still works in a Launceston shop despite being well past retirement age.

She worked in the former Gateway Store in town before it became the Co-op. She has held many different offices within the Salvation Army, having worked with young people for 53 of those years.

Miss Butler regularly spends her spare time visiting patients in Launceston Hospital and residents of nursing and retirement homes in the town.

Miss Butler is also a member of the committee of the Launceston and Lifton Branch of the Cancer Research Committee and a trustee of the Dunheved Municipal Charities.

She told the 'Post' that when she first had the letter informing her of the award in November, she was not immediately pleased. She explained: "I found it hard to accept, to be honest. I don't do it to be put on a pedestal. I live for other people and put people before myself. I just love to be helping somebody. I have now started to feel the thrill of it."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.