THE woman responsible for making the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation what it is today received her OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace last week.

Anna Marsden, 55, from Manton, near Marlborough, retired earlier this year as director of the organisation which distributed grants to 191 good causes in Wiltshire and Swindon during the last financial year.

She was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June and last Tuesday received the medal from the Queen.

Ms Marsden said: "It was a marvellous day for me and my family. Of course it was also the day that the Lord Chamberlain fainted but he managed to read out my name and stay upright while the Queen presented me. I hear he has now recovered.

"What was really fascinating was speaking to all the other recipients while we were waiting. It was interesting to see the diversity of activities that had led people to being honoured in their own ways."

Although Ms Marsden has officially retired, she is still connected with the Community Foundation movement and has been travelling around the south of England passing on her knowledge and expertise to similar organisations.

She said: "I have been to community foundations in Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Devon to advise them on setting up endowment funds."