A dedicated sub-postmistress who has spent the last 68 years working at a village post office was among the Midlands’ unsung heroes recognised in the New Year Honours today.

Kay White, aged 83, is now one of Britain’s oldest sub-postmistresses after starting work at the Claverley branch at the age of 15 and today spoke of the “huge honour” of being made an MBE.

Miss White joined the staff at the post office on leaving Claverley Church of England School and became sub-postmistress in 1960.

She has spent 38 years on the parish council and also ran the Sunday school at nearby All Saints Church for more than 20 years

Miss White, who was born on a farm less than two miles away from her current home, also helped found the local Women’s Institute.

She lives at the High Street branch which she still runs with her niece Ann Madeley, and has no plans to retire.

She said today: “This is a huge honour and it has been a terrible strain keeping it secret because of the number of people I know in the area.

“Just last week I had a little smile to myself when one of my regulars said he was going to write to Buckingham Palace to say I deserved recognition for all the work I had done in the village. I knew somebody had beaten him to it but could not say a word about it because the news had to be kept quiet until the big day.

“Claverley is a beautiful village. I have loved my life here and have never wanted to move anywhere else..”

Her brother Roy, 87, and sister Margaret, 86, still live in Claverley while her other brother Reg, 88, has a home in nearby Seisdon. “It is unusual for four siblings to all live so long – it must be something in the air,” concluded Miss White.

Nationally, ex-Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox has been appointed an OBE for work fighting Aids and poverty in Africa.

Actors Sheila Hancock and David Suchet become CBEs, while stage star Harriet Walter is appointed a dame.

By John Scott