Rutland resident "sat and cried" after being named on the Queen's Birthday Honours List
People across the East Midlands are being recognised for their achievements
We're hearing from one Rutland resident who was in tears after reading that she'd made the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2022.
Barbara Crellin from Greetham is being made an MBE for her outstanding voluntary commitment to first aid in the community, and joins a number of other names being recognised across the East Midlands.
She told Greatest Hits exactly how it felt to realise she'd be honoured for her dedication to helping people in Rutland:
'When I opened (the letter) it was very small print and lots of writing and I thought oh, what's this? and then I got down to about the third paragraph and found out what it was all about and I just sat and cried, then shouted at my husband, then cried again', Barbara said.
'The hardest thing for the last 6 weeks has been keeping it quiet from my children and grandchildren.'
'To be quiet honest, I'm speechless, emotional, just can't believe it really. I'm really looking forward to being able to talk to people about it as well because that has been really really hard.'
Recognition deserved
After retiring as a headteacher, 71-year-old Barbara co-founded the Rutland Community First Responders group in alliance with the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
She's since attended over 900 patient calls, volunteered as a responder for around 10,000 hours, and has spent countless more hours training other volunteers how to save lives.
She trains members of the community to use defibrillators, and teaches them who to deal with life-threatening conditions - while she's also responsible for the fundraising to cover the cost of the equipment.
Martyn Pocock, from Oakham, has also been added to the list of those in the East Midlands receiving an honour.
The 72-year-old will receive a BEM (British Empire Medal) for his services to the Army and Army charities.
As Regimental Secretary, of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and then the Royal Lancers, he brokered the agreement for totemic items such as cap badge and uniform, and organised the amalgamation and guidon parades, both of which were attended by HM The Queen.
What's going on through the Jubilee week?
Thursday 2nd June: Trooping the Colour
To mark the Queen's official birthday, over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are coming together in what the official Royal Family website describes as "a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare". The event will consist of a musical parade where soldiers will salute the Queen. The traditional march then closes with a fly-past by the Royal Air Force, which the Royal Family typically watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Thursday 2nd June: Platinum Jubilee Beacons
At Buckingham Palace, the Principal Beacon (which traditionally has been lit to mark the Queen's jubilee), will be 'lit' on Thursday. This jubilee beacon however is set to be a little different to previous jubilee celebrations, as a large living tree sculpture by British designer Thomas Heatherwick is being used. The lighting installation within this structure will act as the lighting of the principal beacon to reflect the Royal Family's commitment to environmental causes. A Palace spokeswoman has said on the sculpture: "It's 21 metres high – that's the height of three giraffes." Throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, other beacons are being lit in celebration.
Friday 3rd June: Service of Thanksgiving
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. This is in keeping with tradition as ever since 1897, the cathedral has hosted Jubilee services. St Paul's are also hosting an exhibition exploring the history of Jubilee celebrations at the cathedral across three centuries. This has been open to the public since May 25th.
Saturday 4th June: Platinum Party at the Palace
On Saturday, big names Diana Ross and George Ezra are set to perform at a concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen's reign. Live coverage will be broadcast on BBC One and will be hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp and co-presented by Huw Edwards, Clare Balding, AJ Odudu and Anita Rani.
Sunday 5th June: Big Jubilee Lunch
Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. This will mark the end of the bank holiday. It is also the day that pubs stop opening until 1am, giving everyone a reason to relax and have an early night.
Sunday 5th June: Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen's reign through a pageant. This will include a "River of Hope" section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river. In 2012, there was a similar parade of 670 boats on the Tideway of the River Thames in London as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July: The Royal Collection Trust
Three displays marking the Queen's accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
12th-15th May: Platinum Jubilee Celebration Performance
In celebration of the Queen's 70 years on the throne, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers took part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to the present day.