For the past 16 years a Dereham mum has been working her socks off to help schools and education in the town. Now, Daphne Price, 56, has been made an MBE for voluntary service to education at schools in Dereham in the Queen's birthday honours.

For the past 16 years a Dereham mum has been working her socks off to help schools and education in the town.

Now, Daphne Price, 56, has been made an MBE for voluntary service to education at schools in Dereham in the Queen's birthday honours.

Mrs Price has been a school governor for a total of 16 years and a chairman of the governors at Northgate High School for 10 of those.

She was instrumental in a bid to the Football Foundation for cash towards new changing rooms and pitch at the high school.

But says her biggest achievement is helping build a respected team of governors who are regularly involved in things that matter to the school and effects pupils - like appointing head teachers and joining a partnership with a sixth form.

She said she was excited to have been made an MBE. “I'm very honoured but quite surprised to be singled out, what I do is done by people everywhere.”

“All the schools have been fantastic. They have always received me with a great welcome and encouragement.

“That's why you do it. We have such a fantastic group of people full of enthusiasm.

“The football foundation bid was one of the biggest achievements but I would say to build a team of respected governors who are regularly involved in things that matter to the school and effects pupils is my personal biggest achievement.

“To me the most important thing is being able to be involved in appointing a really good head teacher.

“And getting specialist status and new facilities.”

Born in Shropshire, she started volunteer work at her children's' primary school in Scarning after moving to Norfolk with her husband, Chris, in 1981. She helped on the school and home association and helping with swimming classes.

She moved on to Northgate High when her children did she got involved with the school and home association again and became treasurer.

She helped raise money for school mini buses and took children on the Thetford Chase walk, raising a couple of thousand pounds each year.

Then head teacher John Spradbury asked if she would join the governors. At first she declined but then he got his way and she joined.

She was soon made clerk before being elected chairman, a post from which she stood down last year after 10 years.

However, she is still chairman of the finance committee and on other committees and works part time for Norfolk County Council's children's services.

Mr Price is head of PE at the school. They have two children, Tim and Verity aged 31 and 29.