TWO East Hampshire women have been recognised for their work in the community in this year’s New Year’s Honours List – and will both receive the British Empire Medal.

Susan Ann Fifield, from Farringdon, and Jennifer Susan Marlow, from Alton, are among 318 people across the UK to be awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM), in recognition of meritorious civil service worthy of recognition by the Crown.

They look set to receive their medals from the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire before attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace later in the year.

Having been notified of the awards some weeks before Christmas and sworn to secrecy, they received formal confirmation from The Gazette (official public record) late on December 29 before the news was published in the national press on the run-up to the New Year.

A retired librarian and active member of All Saints’ Church, Farringdon, Susan Fifield is to receive the award for services to the community in Farringdon while Jennifer Marlow, a preacher for Alton Methodist Church, is to be awarded the BEM for service to vulnerable people in the community in Alton.