Five pillars of the Buckinghamshire community received their British Empire Medal’s at a special ceremony this week, with the Lord Lieutenant for the county, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, making the presentations on behalf of the Queen.

  • Sally Williams, of Bourne End, received the BEM for services to charity and the community.

Since 1987, this keen gardener has been doing her bit for charity, raising more than £83,000 from plant sales alone.

Over the years, Mrs Williams has opened her large garden to the public in a bid to raise as much money as possible for a variety of charities, including High Wycombe Scan Appeal and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

Also benefiting has been the Tall Ships Youth Trust, of which she was a trustee for more than 40 years, the Iain Rennie Hospice and the Helen and Douglas House Hospice.

For more than 10 years she has also been an active volunteer member of the Wye Valley Volunteers – who received Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service two years ago.

Mrs Williams also drives the minibus every week to bring people to community centre lunches and coffee mornings.

  • Valerie McPherson, of Longwick, receives the BEM for services to policing and community safety.

Having been involved in Neighbourhood Watch for 30 years, and performing the role of area co-ordinator for Longwick, community safety is something close to this councillor’s heart.

Ms Macpherson organised Thames Valley regional NW conference in May 2013 at which the Home Secretary spoke and presented awards to local co-ordinators and volunteers.

Following an armed hold-up at Longwick post office and village shop, which raised the fear of crime among villagers, Valerie held a village meeting on ‘Gun and Knife Crime’, which led to greater levels of confidence about crime and community safety.

Ms Macpherson is a Longwick parish councillor and promotes partnership working with police.

  • Margaret Dykes, of Chalfont St Giles, receives the BEM for services to charity and to the community.

Mrs Dykes said she was “elated” to receive the honour after spending years volunteering within the community.

As well as having links with the Contact the Elderly charity and the Chalfont St Giles Garden Club, she is also the local branch treasurer for the National Council for Women and was treasurer of the Chalfont St Giles parish church for 12 years.

Mrs Dykes also received her award for 28 years' of service for the Traidcraft charity, which is linked to the Fair Trade movement and helps to fight poverty through trade by working with food producers.

Learning about Fair Trade is now part of the national curriculum and Mrs Dykes' experience of the movement made her a prolific public speaker at schools and community groups in south Bucks.

  • Lesley Turner, of Wooburn Green, receives the BEM for services to young people.

For more than 50 years Mrs Turner has been working with young people through the St James’ Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade at Alperton, in west London.

She has developed the Alperton Company into the most popular in London, in contrast with declining numbers of Girls’ Brigade companies.

Mrs Turner has helped transform the prospects of young girls, many from disadvantaged families.

She offers girls opportunities to socialise in a safe environment and take part in activities they could not normally afford – such as learning musical instruments, and activity holidays.

  • Anthony Hoare, of Chalfont St Giles, receives the BEM for services to the community.

A long standing library volunteer, Mr Hoare, says his British Empire Medal deserves to go to the whole of his community.

Tony Hoare received the award for his many years as a volunteer at the Chalfont St Giles Community Library - which at one stage was threatened with closure - and at the Memorial Hall in the village.

He is a trustee of the charitable organisations that have looked after the two buildings for several years.

Chalfont St Giles' library was one of the first in the county to be taken over by a group of volunteers, after it was no longer financially viable for Buckinghamshire County Council to oversee its operation.

Mr Hoare said: “I am very pleased to have been awarded this honour for myself and, I believe, on behalf of the Chalfont St Giles community.”