A Wiltshire scout leader was “thrilled to bits” after learning she had been included in the New Year’s honours list.

85-year-old Barbara King is the group scout leader for the Scout Activity Support Unit of the 10th Chippenham Scout Group. She recently received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to young people in Wiltshire.

Mrs King, along with her late husband Brian, has been involved in the scouting movement for 54 years and has been a mainstay of the Chippenham group for almost half a century, helping to significantly expand its numbers.

She said: “It was such a surprise because I never thought this was going to happen. I was gobsmacked when I heard I was getting a medal.

“I’m very proud and I’ve been getting lots of phone calls and texts saying congratulations. My family were thrilled to bits, it’s a nice feeling.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Barbara and Brian celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in the Chippenham scout hut.Barbara and Brian celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in the Chippenham scout hut. (Image: Chris Jones)

Mrs King remains a uniformed member, as her husband did until his death, and still helps at the scout hut.

In one of her nomination letters, assistant explorer scout leader Phil Townsend praised her for “nearly 50 years of consistent and sustained service to the community of Chippenham.”

He added: “Barbara has nurtured and encouraged generations of young people in the town but also inspired many adults to volunteer.”