A RETIRED doctor from North Tawton, who has spent many years documenting the history of the area, has been awarded a BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Dr Jean May Shields has been recognised for her services to local history in North Tawton.

Born in North Tawton, Dr Shields lived in Okehampton to practice medicine before moving back to the town where she was born.

A long-time chairperson of the Okehampton and District Local History Society, Dr Shields co-authored The Book of North Tawton, a tome celebrating the town's history from its Stone Age origins through to the present day.

She is involved with hosting local history exhibitions in the town, as well as history walks around North Tawton and talks for local history groups. She has also volunteered for the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton for around 15 years.

She said: 'It is a great honour, and also a great surprise to be included on the honours list. I had no idea I would receive an honour.

'The whole thing started around 20 years ago, when the Rector rang and asked me to write a leaflet about the church and its history. I said I didn't know anything about history or writing, but it went from there. I got hooked on history.

'Local history is fascinating, and I felt it ought to be recorded in some way before people died and the town history was lost forever.'