Medal honour for dedicated stalwart of Great Ayton community

She recently received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in her home village, which was presented to her by Johanna Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, the King's representative in the county.

Frances has been elected to both the parish and Hambleton District councils, and is currently chair of Great Ayton Parish Council, and the Captain Cook Museum Trust.

Cllr John Fletcher, who has known her for many years, says: "Frances cares deeply for the village and the community." Reverend Paul Peverell, vicar of Great Ayton, Easby and Newton under Roseberry, adds that she has never been out for glory, but supports and helps to organise village fetes, carols on the green and various village activities.

"If you want to see what Frances does, look for the person quietly doing their bit behind the scenes and never wanting any fuss," he says. "Frances is very much a doer, rather than a talker and thoroughly reliable, which is why her being in the King's New Year Honours is so fitting.

Frances Greenwell with son Simon, husband Peter and daughter Tessa Snowdon

"It is good to see that the quiet, faithful worker who helps make community events happen, gets noticed. Congratulations Frances, on a very well deserved BEM."

Born in Ashton-Under-Lyne, near Manchester, Frances's family moved to Great Ayton when her father got a job at ICI Wilton. Educated at the British School, Great Ayton, which is now the Discovery Centre, and Edward Kitching school, which is now flats, she also attended the Girls High School in Middlesbrough, but after completing her A-levels she decided she didn't want to go to university, even though her sisters did, so she moved to London, becoming a registry clerk in the Middle East section at ICI headquarters.

Frances Greenwell, from Great Ayton, and son Simon

"It was a posh name for a filing clerk," she says, "but I didn't settle in London so transferred to Wilton ICI doing a similar job. All paperwork goes through the registry, so it can be put in the correct file and easily found. This stood me in great stead for the future, as I do all the paperwork for our family business, PH Greenwell Contractors, based in Great Ayton.

Frances met her husband, Peter, at junior school – "it was a bit of a slow burner" – she laughs. They were married in 1967, and later Frances stayed at home to look after their two children, and worked from home on the family business.

She also began to help her mother with Meals on Wheels, delivering food around the village, cooking it all at home at first, later moving to premises in Great Ayton's Ambulance Hall.

Frances Greenwell with her grandchildren Jude and Lucas

In 1988, encouraged by Peter, she became clerk to the parish council, hoping to help the village, for which she had developed a real affinity. In 1999 she became a parish councillor, and the council representative on the board of governors of Marwood Infant School.

Frances became a trustee of the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum Trust, and was in post when this Grade II listed building was given £200,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete a refit, give extra training to the volunteers, and install a new stairway.

"The statue of Cook on the Green in the village, created a lot of publicity," says Frances, "and when the Endeavour sailed from Australia, the captain was able to unveil it. This caused a lot of media interest. Our little museum has lots of visitors from all over the world, and it is much improved by the refurbishment."

Frances was also very happy to be involved as a governor at Marwood School, and on her watch, the small building was extended to incorporate the caretaker's cottage next door and an extension was built at the back, modernising the school and giving it much more space.

As a district councillor for Hambleton, Frances had many roles on various committees. At the time there were plans to build more homes on land off Station Road which attracted fierce opposition.

Frances spoke out against the proposal, saying: "Hambleton already has a Local Development Framework, which has identified sites across the district for potential future development. But as regards Great Ayton, there's pressure for development, but only one small site existing. The site off Station Road is not included in this framework, so there is little potential for housing in this area, bar minor infilling." The plans were rejected on appeal.

In 2010, when the county council withdrew funding from libraries, cutting its 42 facilities down to 18, Frances spoke out in opposition, accurately foreseeing a backlash from the community. The former library was renamed Great Ayton Discovery Centre, and is now a thriving community hub, run by a team of enthusiastic and committed volunteers.

"I always represented the interests of Great Ayton whenever I could," says Frances.

As a young child Frances's parents would take her to the Lake District, where she developed a love of walking and the outdoors, and when she was 40, they bought her some hiking boots and she decided to go trekking.

Frances Greenwell doing a sponsored walk in France to raise money for the search and rescue team

"I was self employed so I lived and worked from home, so wanted some time away," she says. "The first time was a trek in Mont Blanc and I went camping for the first time. I loved being in the fresh air. I went round Europe, Pakistan, Morocco and Egypt. I joined the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team and would go out with a support vehicle, working both in the control room and providing hot soup and cold drinks for when the rescuers returned. It was scary driving a Land Rover for the first time. I was also on the committee as a fundraiser."

In 2012, Frances received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal for her services to Mountain Rescue.

"If you are able to volunteer for anything, just do it," she says. "You don't need any expertise in particular. Giving time to help any organisation will make you feel as though you are contributing something."