Betty Cohen, from Aberlemno, receives the honour 22 years after husband Dr Cyril Cohen was awarded the OBE for his services to medicine in the Scottish Hospitals Advisory Service.

Seventy-six-year-old Betty admitted to being both surprised and honoured to have been made an MBE, although she feels the awards are a little bit of a lottery.

"There are so many people I know who are doing just as much as I am," she commented.

Mrs Cohen first became involved with Age Concern Angus when her husband began the service forty years ago, and she has been chairman for the past 28 years.

She helped set up both Forfar Day Care Centre and the Dalhousie Centre in Brechin, which is soon to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Mrs Cohen was also part of the team to launch the Angus Care and Repair charity, Angus Citizens Advice Bureau and the Angus Carers Centre.

Mrs Cohen achieved a PhD in 1967 for her research into digestion and absorbtion of protein in man.

She completed a BSc in nutrition in 1953 and a BSc (Hons) in bio-chemistry in 1964.

And four years ago she achieved an Open University degree in health and social welfare .