A HASLEMERE woman who has devoted more than 50 years to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has become an MBE in the golden jubilee Queens birthday honours list.
Dizzy Moore from Three Gates Lane received her honour for services to the community, in her former home town of Bewdley in Worcestershire and Haslemere.
"It's lovely and means an enormous amount, but I really couldn't have done the work without the support and help from other people," Mrs Moore told The Herald this week.
Now aged 76 - "1925 was a vintage year", she joked, Mrs Moore moved to Haslemere three years ago.
A town councillor in Bewdley for eight years, Mrs Moore went on to become mayor of that town on two occasions in the late 1980s and early 1990s
"I lived in Bewdley for 30 years, my children are in Cheshire and the South and decided I needed a bit of space for me. When you are known as 'Mrs Bewdley', you know it's time to move on," she laughed.
"I came down to start painting and sketching, doing some reading and embroidery and tapestry work," she said.
But within weeks, and after a tour of the Abbeyfield home in Grayswood Road, Mrs Moore became the chairman of the executive committee - and that was just the beginning.
Her Christian name is Desiree but she says has been known as Dizzy for almost as long as she can remember.
Her life and work in the community is as busy now as it ever was, with the list of organisations she belongs to and helps almost endless.
She has been involved with the Women's Section of the RBL for many years, has been a member of the WI on and off since 1948, and is now a member of Grayswood WI. She's also a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, and Care in Haslemere.
Dizzy Moore became the first female Rotarian in the town when she joined Haslemere and District Rotary Club and finds time to run her own business and also act as a guide at Petworth House.
"I enjoy it, I've learned an awful lot of history and much about the paintings in the house," said Mrs Moore.
Originally from Oxted, Mrs Moore is a former nurse in the Voluntary Aid Detachment of the Royal Navy.
But it is her work with the Poppy Appeal and as a welfare officer with the organisation that has been one of the most rewarding contributions to the community.
A county chairman for the RBL Poppy Appeal Worcestershire and now on the Surrey county committee, Mrs Moore was presented with a gold badge, the highest award from the RBL, for her work at a special ceremony in Haslemere last year.
Adding to her workload still further, Mrs Moore took on the chairmanship of the concert-organising committee for Surrey's Queen's Golden Jubilee tribute concert and picnic which takes place on Sunday in the grounds of Loseley Park and which thousands are expected to support.
"I am very lucky to have done so many interesting things," said Mrs Moore.
The honour in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, said Surrey county field officer for the RBL Peter Bruinvels, "couldn't have come at a more appropriate time".
"We are very pleased and proud of her and the honour is thoroughly deserved," he said.
Mr Bruinvels said Mrs Moore was a remarkable lady.
"She has worked extremely hard for us on the Poppy Appeal for 50 years.
"And as the secretary for the RBL welfare service she is involved in meeting people and accessing how the organisation can help.
"She is a good ambassador for the Surrey RBL and for the RBL Women's Section," he said.
There are still some tickets available for Sunday's special golden jubilee concert.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex are to attend the concert which features the Band of the Honourable Artillery Company HAC, Guildford's Symphony Orchestra, the well-known marching pikemen, Penelope Keith and a spectacular firework display to round off the evening's entertainment.
Staged by the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help, all proceeds go to the charities which help serving and ex-servicemen, women and their families.
Tickets are priced at £12-50 each or £10 for groups of 10 and over. Children under 12 are free.
Contact 01625 560000.