A self-confessed ‘bookworm’ from Amersham who has dedicated more than 5,000 hours to helping young children read says she is “shocked to the core” at being recognised in the New Year’s honours list. 

Helen Fowler, 91, will receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to children and reading after 40 years of tirelessly volunteering to instil a love of reading on younger generations.

For the last 15 years, Mrs Fowler has been a volunteer reading assistant at St George’s Infant School and Woodside Junior School in Amersham and for the last five years, has shared her personal experiences of World War II as part of history lessons.

Her coaching and advice has helped to improve pupils’ achievement significantly, rising above national average for the last four years.

The dedicated volunteer has also been involved with the Brownie and Guide organisations, taking children on camping holidays in the UK and abroad and teaching cooking skills.

Mrs Fowler got into volunteering after her husband of 54 years passed away - “desperately upset, lonely and very miserable” after his death 17 years ago, she wanted to keep herself busy.

She said: “I was lonely and miserable - my family live in Yorkshire and Scotland. I have lots of wonderful friends but that doesn’t always keep you busy and out of the house.

“I was welcomed into the schools with open arms and I have had the pleasure of one-to-one reading with children for 17 years - I love it.”

Mrs Fowler found out she would be receiving the honour while in hospital with a broken hip and said the news came “completely out of the blue.”

“It has been such an enormous shock, I just can’t get over it. I keep thinking, why me?

“It is wonderful and such a huge honour because I love what I do.”