Dumfries’ Myra Smith has been given the royal seal of approval for her community work by King Charles III.
Myra, Morrisons community champion, was honoured for services to the economy in Dumfries during the Covid-19 crisis with a British Empire Medal.
And she wore her medal with pride when she met King Charles on a visit to the company’s headquarters in Bradford this week.
She was one of four community champions, all awarded a BEM, who were introduced to the new monarch.
Myra told the Standard the King was “friendly” and “charismatic”.
She said: “I was very excited to have been invited to be presented to HRH The King on Tuesday at Morrisons HQ with four other BEM champions.
“Charles spoke to us all and praised our work in his end speech, which was lovely.
“I was asked how I got my medal and he was really interested to hear about our community.
“He also wanted to know when I had travelled to West Yorkshire.
“What was also special was that he also asked me to pass on his love to my part of the country.”
After unveiling a plaque, King Charles expressed his admiration for the supermarket company’s community champions.
He said: “All the work that’s been done by the community champions has been so enormously heartening.
“And to see the kind things you do within communities, it’s very special, so I can only thank you for all of that and wish you every possible success in future. And, eventually, a very happy Christmas.”
As well as helping foodbank groups during the pandemic, Myra regularly assisted schools, individuals, organisations and charities with fundraising and provisions – including the Standard’s Toy Appeal and the Poppy Scotland Appeal.
She said: “I enjoy helping people wherever I can at work and at home, and I do a lot of things in my own time.
“It is the best thing to bring a smile to someone’s face.”
Myra received her BEM from Dumfriesshire’s Lord Lieutenant Fiona Armstrong at a local ceremony due to coronavirus restrictions at the time.
In the summer, she was invited by the late Queen Elizabeth II to a royal garden party in the grounds of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh where she was accompanied by her teenage daughter, Rebecca.
And Tuesday’s trip to meet King Charles III was the icing on the cake.
His visit to Morrisons HQ was the beginning of a two-day trip to Yorkshire.
■ You can see Myra’s big moment at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4-uCpq3Ugw
