A LODERS resident has been praised and recognised for her service to the village.

Jessie Barrett was honoured at a tea party held by the trustees of Loders Village Hall for her contribution as chairman for the last 20 years and her help in providing a new village hall, which opened in 2000.

More than 80 friends and residents joined Jessie at the party and left personal messages of thanks, with Lord Hood of Loders presenting her with an honorary presidency for her sterling work in the village.

Not only was she instrumental in getting the new village hall up and running – together with the late John Hyde – but she has also run the village lunches for the last 18 years, tended the graveyard, has done the church flowers, helped on the Parochial Church Council, ran harvest suppers and even continued the newspaper round when no one took it up. She also ran the Sunday school and organised the village fete.

Tina Cornish, acting chairman of Loders Village Hall, praised her sterling work in ensuring village life continues for the benefit of residents and the wider community.