Hilda Swinney A WRITER who started her journalistic career with the Gazette and Herald as a village correspondent, has been awarded the MBE for services to journalism and the community in the Queen's Birthday honours list.
Scots-born Hilda Swinney moved to Wiltshire in 1970 with her husband, a prison officer at Erlestoke.
While working as a court usher in 1974 she fell into conversation with reporter Lesley Fox. Mrs Swinney said: "Lesley saw me taking notes and asked what I was doing. I told her of my interest in writing and that led to me becoming correspondent for Erlestoke and the Lavingtons for the next four years. I used to fill a page every week.
"When we moved to Portland in 1978 I contacted the Dorset Echo. I am still writing for them, though I have had to cut down a bit recently. I am the only 76-year-old registered blind journalist in the business.
"I still cover quite a few news stories but my career started on the Gazette.
"I was absolutely knocked sideways when I heard about the MBE. The Echo made me its front page story on Saturday. It is all very embarrassing. I am more used to writing the news than making it."
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