A CONSERVATIONIST has been awarded an MBE for a lifetime of work dedicated to Harwich.

Betty Holbrook, of St Helens Green, was given her title in the Queen's birthday honours.

The 88-year-old was born in Harwich and worked in her younger years helping at her family's butchers - she was one of very few women to hold a slaughter licence.

From 1968 to 1970 she was mayoress of the then Harwich Borough Council.

And in 1979 she bought her first derelict house in the town to renovate - a hobby that took over her life for decades.

Most of the 30 properties she took on were listed including a huge project to restore three rundown 18th century houses in Kings Quay Street, one of which was the former Sir Humphrey Parsons School.

Her work on the houses was rewarded with a commendation from the Civic Trust in 1982.

Betty's crowning glory was restoring one of the oldest buildings in the town - a 15th century house in St Austin's Lane.

But alongside her conservation work, Betty has also been a driving force behind charity The Fellowship for the Sick since 1970, on the organising committee for the New Year's Eve fireworks display on the quay, is currently president of the Luney Club and an invaluable helper and judge at the Harwich Guy Carnival.

In the past she has also been chairman of the Harwich Hospital fete committee and used to help put up the town's Christmas lights each year.

She was given a Paul Harris Fellow award from the Rotary Foundation for her community work in Harwich.

Betty said: "I'm over the moon to get an MBE.

"I love the community of Harwich and I love to help people and the town.

"To me it's a part of life to help other people.

"But I'm also pleased of all of Harwich and all the people that have worked with me and the volunteers.

"Without those people I couldn't have done it so I want to thank them."