A LIFETIME of service to the communities of Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui earned Mary Haggarty a British Empire Medal in the Queen's birthday honours list.

The official list of honours recipients states that Mary is the secretary of Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui Community Council – and while that's true as far as it goes, it's just one of several hats that Mary wears as she goes about quietly but doggedly trying to improve life for the people who live in the area.

Mary said: “I had mixed feelings when I got the letter saying I'd been nominated. I was excited, yes, and I was proud, but I also felt very humbled, because I've always had a team of really good folk around me, no matter what I've done for the village.”

As well as serving as the community council's secretary, Mary also chairs the local heritage group (in which guise she has written a book about the history of the area), serves on the Three Villages Hall committee, is a member of the school council at Arrochar Primary, and is an elder at Arrochar Parish Church.

Born in a small cottage at Ardmay on the edge of the village, Mary was educated at Arrochar Primary School – and apart from her secondary education at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh, and a short spell working at Coulport after her former employer, the Forestry Commission, closed its office in the area, Mary has remained tied to Arrochar throughout her life.

“I've been very fortunate to live here all my life and to work here for most of it,” she said.

“Arrochar is my life and there's always something to be done to try and improve it.”

Former Argyll and Bute provost Billy Petrie, a past deputy lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, said: "Mary really is 'Mrs Arrochar'. She was born there, she loves the place and she knows it better than anyone else and her award is richly deserved."