A LIFELONG volunteer who has dedicated 44 years to supporting local charities has been awarded for her service.

June Boyce, of Kepplewray Drive in Barrow, began volunteering with the Royal Voluntary Service over a quarter of a century ago and has also racked up 44 years with Furness Lions Ladies.

In recognition of her 27 years with the RVS she has been presented with a clasp awarded on the authority of the Queen.

Mrs Boyce, 89, spends her spare time helping patients at the hospital.

“I started when the new part of the hospital was built; I thought I could get involved and help out,” she said.

“A lot of the work we do is taking patients to the doctors’ clinics and I really enjoy it, it’s really rewarding."

One of Mrs Boyce’s fellow Furness Lions Ladies members, Heather Jefferson, has also served for 44 years.

Along with Beverly Ashley, Lilian Connell, Esme Dawson and Bessie Steel the group is made up of just six members.

Between them they have dedicated 167 years to raising money for charities.

“When I first joined there was 36 of us,” Mrs Boyce said.

“We aren’t quite as active as we once were but we do as much as we can,” Mrs Jefferson said.

Activities undertaken by the Furness Lions Ladies include raising money for MacMillan Nurses, the air ambulance services, Blood Bikes, Oncology, Intensive Care Unit, Ward 6 and 7 and St Mary’s Hospice.