IF there's a village event in Shipton Gorge it's a safe bet that somewhere behind the scenes will be an industrious Sally Parker making it happen.

That's one of the reasons the 71-year-old has been recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List with a British Empire Medal.

Sally has known since November but none of her family - her partner, two sons, three daughters or 15 grandchildren - knew anything about it until New Year's Day.

Sally herself was very surprised - and delighted - to get the honour.

She said: "I never dreamt anything like this would happen to me."

She's well known outside her beloved village for her work as chairman of the Bridport Crime Prevention Panel but she was nominated by her friend Ann Hunt and others for her unstinting dedication to village life.

Sally, who has lived in Shipton Gorge for 50 years, says its a wonderful place to live and she's dedicated much of the past five decades to ensuring it stays that way.

She said: "I got a letter back in November and I was told to keep it confidential. I never breathed a word, not even to my family.

"They thought it was absolutely fantastic. They put up lovely messages on Facebook - there were more than 200 congratulation messages I got through that.

"Ann nominated me along with a couple of other people who wrote nice things. It was to do with the work I do in the village.

"I am a director on the NISL (New Inn Support Ltd), I am on the committee for the village hall where we raise money, I am on the village society, again where we do things to get village people together and I am the chairman of the Bridport Crime Prevention Panel and I do Homewatch here for Shipton Gorge as well."

She's consequently a very busy woman, she says.

"But I enjoy every minute of it. I think village life is worth preserving. Like the pub, we thought we were going to lose it, we got together and we kept it open and the village hall you need funding to keep these things going for the young ones.

"I do the fete and the village show, we do a race night and quizzes, just get involved there are other people who help as well. It is a lovely village to live in and it's no hardship to do it."

Sally said Shipton does not suffer from any lack of volunteers either.

"Here if you come up with an idea and say 'this is what I'd like to do, will you help? 'you get the help."

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