Community stalwart presented with award in Wem
A community stalwart has been presented with her British Empire Medal by the Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire.
Gloria Johnson, of Noble Street, Wem, was given the award in the Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year for services to the community in Measham, Leicestershire.
The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire Sir Algernon Heber-Percy made the presentation to the grandmother-of-two at St Peter & St Paul’s Church in Wem.
Ms Johnson, 64, said: "It was a great honour to receive this award in recognition for my work in the community.
"It would never have been possible without the togetherness of the whole community behind me.
"Whilst to receive this award is a great privilege, the real privilege comes from working with community groups and individuals.
"Community work is all about togetherness, generosity, helping each other and going the extra mile.
"It has been an honour in itself to spend the past 30 years of my working life in the community at grassroots level.
"Although my work in Leicestershire has now come to an end I have been working in Shropshire for the past two years and hope that this is a new beginning.
"My hope and aspiration now is that the experience, knowledge and contacts I have made can now be used to support the community in Shropshire."
In 1994 she was headhunted by North West Leicestershire District Council to manage the community office.
She rose to the challenge after the offices were in great threat to be sold on or permanently closed.
She raised the funds single-handedly and set up the Measham and District Community Enterprise Trust in the same building.
After 21 years in operation the Enterprise encompasses many activities including Action for Jobs, employment training, an employment bureau, Community Action, workers co-operatives and festivals.
She has also managed to support on a voluntary basis organisations such as Mobility Bus Appeal, Measham Museum and History Group and Age Concern.
The Enterprise covers a significantly larger area than the small neighbourhood of Measham and has developed a model for regeneration that has been mirrored all over the country.
After moving to Wem last year, she is now working with St Peter & St Paul’s Church in Wem to set up various projects supporting the community.
Describing her reaction after she found out about the award, Ms Johnson said: "I was overwhelmed. I was shocked, surprised. It is a tremendous honour.”
