Elena Foley awarded British Empire Medal

Church volunteer Elena Foley has been honoured with a British Empire Medal (BEM) as part of the Queen’s New Year’s honours list.

Mrs Foley, a member of Castleton Moor Methodist Church, will receive the honour for services to the community in Castleton.

The BEM was reintroduced in 2012 and rewards a sustained, local contribution or innovative high-impact work of a relatively short duration.

Now age 65, Mrs Foley first attended the church when she was seven-years-old and has been a member ever since.

She was a Sunday school teacher for 24 years and began the Castleton Children’s club – known as the Tuesday Club. The club is still running after 38 years.