Pictured with Dr Sarah Furness, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, is Uppingham volunteer Margaret Simpson following a presentation ceremony held in the historic Falcon Hotel in Uppingham, Rutland.

Margaret was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her leadership and voluntary work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She is an Uppingham Community Emergency Plan Coordinator, ran the UppWatch volunteer Control Room during lockdown and led on the delivery of UppShop, a Rotary scheme to help the elderly engage with the online society while still supporting local shops.

Margaret is also member of the Uppingham Hopper team, an Assistant District Governor in Rotary, a Trustee of the Edward J Toon Charitable Trust and a director of the Uppingham Homes Community Land Trust.