Elsie, 93, is given BEM

A voluntary worker who has given more than 50 years’ service to Rushden hospital received the British Empire Medal yesterday.

Miss Elsie Hensman, of Crabb Street, Rushden, was presented with her medal at the hospital, by the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Lt. Col. John Chandos-Pole.  She was awarded the BEM in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Honours list.

A former school teacher, 93-year-old Miss Hensman began her voluntary work in the hospital’s occupational therapy department.  She later moved on to its library, where she helped build up the stock of 5,000 books.

Since her retirement in 1946, Miss Hensman has walked to the hospital every day to visit patients, and is a chairman of the Friends of Rushden Hospital.

Miss Hensman, who was also presented with a latter of congratulations from the Queen, said: “I am thrilled and honoured to receive the medal, but I have enjoyed my work andj will be carrying on with it.  The staff at the hospital have been marvellous to me, and have made all this possible.”

Area Health Authority member, Mrs Pauline Newnes, who was representing the authority’s chairman, Mr Gordon Roberts, at the presentation, described Miss Hensman as “a shining example to us all.”