SHE IS an inspiration to all and a stalwart of our community.

And next month, long-serving St Elizabeth Hospice volunteer Judy Robertson will be recognised for her hard work and dedication.

The 78-year-old mother-of-two, of Ipswich, has been volunteering at the Foxhall Road hospice since it opened in 1989.

During her time she has helped countless families, offering them support when they needed it most.

Having spent 23 years volunteering at the hospice, staff there wanted to thank Mrs Robertson for always putting others before herself.

And this time next month, she will visit Mansion House in London for the League of Mercy presentation ceremony where she is set to win an Order of Mercy Award.

She will join up to 30 people from across the country, who are set to be honoured for their outstanding and distinguished voluntary service.

“I feel very honoured,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to win an award for something I love doing for such a good cause. The hospice is an amazing cause. I first got involved with the hospice when I was asked to help set up a shop.

“I worked in the shop for a number of years but that eventually closed.

“I didn’t want to stop volunteering at the hospice then because I had seen the amazing work it does, so I moved to the reception area.

“It is nice to speak and meet so many different people that come through our doors each day.

“I was shocked to learn that I was going to get an award.”

Having nominated her for the award, Verity Jolly, the hospice’s director of patient services, said: “Judy originally helped in the foyer shop until it closed down and not wanting to lose her connection with our organisation, she transferred to the reception area.

“We are very glad she did and we value her as a volunteer.”

Mrs Roberton will attend the ceremony with one of her sons, Ian, and Sue Tunaley, the hospice’s executive assistant.

More than 1,000 people give their time, working tirelessly to ensure St Elizabeth Hospice can operate properly and care for people with advanced illnesses.

To find out more about volunteering at the hospice, visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk or call 01473 707016.