A MARTHAM woman who has worked for the St John Ambulance for 30 years was among those honoured by the Queen.Elsie Pearson, 72, of Martham, near Yarmouth, has also been made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours as has Prof Stephen Bazire, chief pharmacist at Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

A MARTHAM woman who has worked for the St John Ambulance for 30 years was among those honoured by the Queen.

Elsie Pearson, 72, of Martham, near Yarmouth, has also been made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours as has Prof Stephen Bazire, chief pharmacist at Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Mrs Pearson was made an MBE for service to the community in Martham. She has worked as volunteer for St John Ambulance since 1980 and has been trustee and booking secretary for Martham Village Hall.

She has organised car boot sales and craft fairs and door-to-door collections in the village for various good causes such as the lifeboat, village hall and the village surgery.

The widow, who has lived in Martham since 1961, said: “We usually just get a load of junk mail through the post box. I could not believe it when I saw it.”

Prof Bazire, who was honoured for his services to pharmacy, is the author of the Psychotropic Drug Directory, which has sold nearly half a million copies. He was also involved in setting up a helpline for people to learn about mental health drugs.

The 56-year-old, from Neatishead, who has two children and is a Norwich City season ticket holder, said: “I was deeply shocked and very chuffed when I got the letter, I couldn't believe it.”