ONE of Hartford's most respected residents has said how delighted and surprised she is to have been recognised in the New Year's Honours list.

Rita Hollens, 83, has been awarded an BEM for her work within the community, since moving to the village more than 20 years ago.

"These things are always such a great surprise," explained Rita.

"I've always just got on and done things, I didn't expect to get an award for it.

"It's a great honour and I didn't believe it in the first instance.

"When it came through the letterbox I thought it was a scam, but thankfully it wasn't.

"I'm absolutely delighted and very pleased and very thankful to the community really."

Born and raised in London, Rita moved up to Cheshire in 1962 with her husband and they spent the best part of 40 years living in Little Leigh.

Initially working in pre-school education, specialising her efforts on children with special needs, Rita then spent many years employed by Vale Royal Borough Council, where she eventually became a Community Care Manager.

She said: "Working in the community has always been in me, it's like Blackpool rock I guess.

"And it was a very busy job too, with so many different aspects to it."

When their children had grown up and fled the nest, the couple decided to downsize and found the perfect bungalow in the village, but Rita wasn't ready to relax and put her feet up.

"When we moved to Hartford I didn't just want to turn the tap off," she said.

"We've seen it before with people who retired early, didn't do anything, and before you know, they've popped off.

"I got asked to sit on the parish council in 2000 after a councillor I knew through my work heard I had moved to the village."

One of Rita's most recognisable achievements in her time on the Parish Council was her leading role in developing the village's 'Neighbourhood Plan'.

She said: "I chaired the Hartford Neighbourhood Plan Working Group on behalf of the Parish Council and successfully gained what is called “made” (brought into legal force) of the Plan by the local authority.

"It is such an important document for the community of Hartford and is active until 2030."

Still sitting as the Vice-Chair of the Parish Council, Rita has had a variety of other roles, including as a School Governor at Hartford Manor Primary School and Nursery, a founding member of Hartford Civic Society, as well as sitting as a trustee on Age Concern Cheshire for many years.

She went on: "I became very interested in the work of Hartford Civic Society (founded in 2003).

"What they were trying to do and what the parish council were trying to do were not entirely the same but they were very compatible.

"So I became a link between the two and I'm still involved in both organisations now."

Rita is also very interested in nature and somehow finds the time to also be a committee member on Marshall's Arm Nature Reserve.

She added: "It's such a beautiful area and stretches from Hartford all the way down to the River Weaver.

"We're very lucky to live here as there are so many lovely walks in the area."

If all of the above wasn't enough, Rita also finds the time to be involved in many of the events that are held in Hartford every year, including the Summer Family Fun Day, Christmas Victorian Fayre and Christmas Lights switch-on, Remembrance Day Parade and Parish Council stands at public events.

"I think if you belong to an organisation you can't just go once a month and sit around a table," Rita said.

"You've got to involve yourself.

"But you can't do these things on your own, you've got to have the support of other willing people.

"A place is only as good as what you make it.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle really and the work of all the different organisations come together to make Hartford such a nice place to live.

"I've been very lucky and made some wonderful friends in the community.

"I'm very thankful and very proud."