A STALWART in her community has been praised for her charity work.

Shirley Crompton, from Lower Broadheath, is a committee member for the Broadheath and Rushwick WI, and has helped organised many events, including five Macmillan coffee mornings along with being an active member of her community for decades.

She is about to step down from her role to take things easier.

Mrs Crompton said “These beautiful flowers, the kind words and certificate took me by surprise.

“I was quite overwhelmed and speechless at the time.

“I would never have expected any recognition.

“This has meant so much to me and I would like to thank everyone involved.”

She has raised an estimated £3,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, which supports people and their families living with the illness.

Hannah Fahy, area fundraising manager for the charity, said: ‘We are very sad to hear that Shirley will be moving on.

“She has been an amazing supporter of ours over the years, raising a significant amount of money.”

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Rachael Hodgetts, vice president of the Broadheath and Rushwick WI, said: “Shirley’s trademark attention to detail is evident in all of her productions, from cheesecakes and raffle hampers to church flowers and quiz evenings.

“The finishing touches, the colour coordination - nobody does things quite like Shirley!

“But she has taught a generation or two of local ladies how to arrange flowers, fold napkins, pack biscuits, write notices and wrap gifts properly and we hope that she will approve of our efforts and continue to advise us for many years to come.”

The Broadheath and Rushwick WI meet on the second Wednesday monthly except August, from 10.30am to 12.30 at Broadheath Village Hall.

The Women’s Institute movement was founded in 1915 to bring together rural communities, encouraging women to be actively involved in food production during the First World War.

The Women’s Institute was formed in 1915 to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.

Since then the organisation’s aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK.