A caring Mansfield Woodhouse woman who has devoted her life to volunteering for charities and giving something back to the community since 1973 has received one of Nottinghamshire’s highest awards.

Yvette Price-Mear OLM was presented with the High Sheriff of Nottingham’s Award for Valuable Service to the Community by His Honour Jonathan James Teare.

“Obviously it was a very special occasion, but it was so a thousand fold because my dearest family and friends were allowed to attend too,” said a delighted Yvette.

“It was a humbling experience because some of the other recipients had very harrowing tales to tell of why they had been selected.”

She first volunteered as a 13-year-old at Gateway House at Mansfield and Ransom Hospital, helping to take care of children with special needs during school holidays and at weekends.

While a member of the sixth form at Manor School, Mansfield Woodhouse, Yvette set up and ran The Priceless Hands, a group of 70 12 to17-year-olds who did voluntary work in the community after school.

Among the 20-plus charities she has helped since are MIND, the British Red Cross, the Samarians, Mansfield / Ashfield & District CRUSE (Bereavement Care), the John Eastwood Hospice, the Disabled Information Advice Line and the National Police Aid Convoy.

In 1993, she founded the Pet Bereavement Support Group, which continues to provide a befriending and support service to bereaved pet owners nationwide.