Eileen Rooke awarded British Empire Medal

Ardent Hospiscare fund-raiser recognised for her services to charity in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Eileen Rooke, a leading stalwart of Hospiscare’s Honiton and District Support Group and ardent community worker, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Hours List.

Mrs Rooke, 81, of Offwell, was told the news in May and says it was almost torture to keep it quiet until the end of last week.

The medal has been reintroduced to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and was awarded to Mrs Rooke for her services to charity.

“I am wildly excited,” she told the Midweek Herald. “It’s been hard to keep quiet since May.”

“I am very proud and absolutely delighted.”

Mrs Rooke described the honour as “a double whammy”.

“It marks my 21 years with Hospiscare and service to the community,” she said.

Mrs Rooke, affectionately known in close circles as “she who must be obeyed”, leads from the front when it comes to Hospiscare’s varied fund-raising activities in Honiton.

She has mustered a strong and loyal team, which last year alone raked in around �40,000.

Barry Carpenter, Hospiscare’s group fund-raising co-ordinator, said: “All of us at Hospiscare are delighted with the news of Eileen’s award. It is most deserved.

“In addition to raising more than �500,000 for Hospiscare, over the years she has been closely involved with our bereavement service, our carers’ group and driving patients.

“The honour is richly deserved.”