British Empire Medal for Doncaster cancer charity volunteer Yvonne Woodcock

Yvonne has been a trustee of the Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust for years, and is a longstanding volunteer with the Friends of Doncaster Mansion House.

Today she was awarded her medal by the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Andrew Coombes, on behalf of the Queen, at the Mansion House on High Street, where she does much of her voluntary work.

Yvonne said it felt great to get her medal.

She said: “I’m pleased for the town and for the people.

“It is for charity work with the cancer detection trust, selling poppies, working at the Mansion House, because none of us get paid. It’s an honour to do it.”

She was presented with the honour in front of friends from a number of the charities which she has volunteered for over the years.

“It was great because all these people do things for different charies in the town – and thank you to the Lord Lieutenant for coming and presenting it to me, and to the civic mayor.”

Yvonne, one of the driving forces behind organisations including the DCDT, served as a Doncaster councillor for over 20 years and was civic mayor in 1998/99, during which time she raised over £20,000 for her chosen charities.

She works with many charities and community groups in a voluntary capacity, opening her own home and garden on many occasions to raise funds.

Yvonne, aged 78, still volunteers in Finningley and serves on the Airport Committee as an honorary member and volunteer, and also attends the Cantley Community Centre Committee and regularly assists with events. She was also the main fundraiser for the Royal British Legion’s Annual Poppy Appeal in that area, raising thousands for that charity.

She also spends a lot of time helping at the Mansion House as a longstanding and active member of the Friends of The Mansion House group. She is also involved in Doncaster Minster and Doncaster Cultural Leisure Trust, becoming an honorary member when she stood down as a councillor and remaining a DCLT Board Member.