Girl to collect grandmother's posthumous MBE
The granddaughter of a woman who died the day before she was due to be appointed an MBE has collected the award from Buckingham Palace on her behalf.
Barbara Alexander was recognised in the New Year Honours list for helping to establish the Red Cross in Lancashire.
The 81-year-old lost her battle against bowel cancer at a care home in Carnforth on 30 December.
Her 16-year-old granddaughter Louise and son David attended the palace.
Mrs Alexander, a retired teacher from Bolton-le-Sands, received the news of the award on her 81st birthday.
Her family said she was "absolutely thrilled".
She helped establish a Red Cross branch in Lancaster after arriving in the city in 1963 and discovering there was not one.
The Red Cross said Mrs Alexander had been "the most wonderful volunteer".
Her granddaughter, Louise, from Harlow, Essex, who delayed discovering her A-level results to attend the ceremony said her grandmother's achievements were "an inspiration".
"I felt honoured and proud to receive the award on my grandmother's behalf and the whole event showed that there are so many good people doing good things and making the world a better place," said the sixth form student.
"I'll find out my results tomorrow, but today was about honouring my grandmother and all the other people there whose good work had been recognised."