A COTTESMORE woman could be the longest-serving chorister in Rutland after completing 65 years in the choir at St Nicholas' church.

"I'll go on singing as long as my legs can carry me to church," vows Shirley Smith, 73, who joined the choir on her eighth birthday in August 1944.

Shirley, who was awarded the MBE eight years ago, was presented with congratulatory cards and a bouquet by choir conductor Heather Cowper after a Songs of Praise service last month at the village hall.

Fifteen years ago she received a cushion, specially embroidered by Margaret Frisby, to mark 50 years with the choir. A diamante brooch celebrated her 60th year and she also has a medal for being head chorister. A silver salver, engraved St Nicholas Church Choir 1944-1985, was presented to her on her silver wedding anniversary.

"Singing has been my life and I love choral music, especially the anthems and John Rutter's Christmas music," said Shirley, a widow who lives in Nether Close. Her parents, Cecil and Rose Hallam, were regular churchgoers and Shirley couldn't wait to join the St Nicholas choir, which then had up to 40 members.

"My mother was CofE and a good singer," she recalled. "My father was a Methodist but couldn't sing for toffee, but it was my Auntie Annie, who lived in Easton-on-the-Hill, who first took me to the old Cottesmore Methodist chapel in Clatterpot Lane where there was a Sunshine Corner for the children and I sang Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam."

The St Nicholas choir was considered one of the best in the county. HD Smith was its choirmaster and young Shirley was given a special small chair to sit on between hymns. Mr Smith was a leading member of the Leicester Bach Choir and conducted the choir at the old Central School.

When Shirley became a pupil she immediately joined the choir which travelled around the area giving concerts and winning prizes.

"I've never been confident enough to sing solo," she admitted, "but I have always liked singing with others. I used to be a member of the Oakham Choral Society and I'm very proud to have been a member of the church choir all these years. I couldn't imagine life without it."

Shirley was married for 43 years to Bob, a former Coldstream Guardsman who she met a dance at Oakham's Victoria Hall. He worked for 31 years at Castle Cement and died in 2002, the year after accompanying her to Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE from the Queen. Shirley worked for 27 years at RAF Cottesmore where she started as a cleaner and ended in charge of catering for junior ranks and civilians. "When the lads heard I'd got the MBE they dubbed it 'Mother to Blinkin' Everyone' "she laughed.

She has three children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her son Robert, who now lives in Canada, served 23 years in the RAF, including a term with the Queen's Flight based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire during which he was chosen to be a pallbearer at the funeral of the Duchess of Windsor. Her daughter Beverley is PA to a group-captain at Witton and her other son Nicholas (named after the Cottesmore church) is a baker at Mablethorpe.

"I've really enjoyed singing in the St Nicholas choir. I've met so many nice people, and so many vicars, organists and choristers have come and gone over the years," said Shirley, who has been a parish councillor for 20 years as well as being a valued helper in the community."

"I just wish more young people would join the choir. If I had my time over I'd certainly do it again."