A FARMER’S wife and pub cook from rural Herefordshire has finally been presented with her New Year Honour – despite first admitting she thought it was a hoax.

Catherine Lindesay, known to everyone by her middle name Jean, has been presented with her British Empire Medal for services to the community in Clifford, near Hay-on-Wye, where she lives.

Speaking after the 2021 New Year Honours list was revealed, she believed the recognition came from the congregation of St Mary’s Church, where she had been the organist for more than 60 years.

She even played the organ during the special service of evening prayer on September 27 when the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire Edward Harley presented her with her honour.

Her daughter Caroline Herdman said vicars Lucy Morris and Lady Jane Lisvane took the service, and Mr Harley said beforehand that it was very nice to be presenting the award and being able to spectate in the service and to hear Mrs Lindesay playing the organ.

The church congregation and Mrs Lindesay’s immediate family were present and it was a very enjoyable, she said.

But she said the news came as a total shock and thought it was a hoax when she got the call.

She married a local farmer, Malcolm Lindesay, but when they retired from farming in the midst of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 she became involved at the Castlefields in Clifford.

“I’ve lived here almost all of my life, but I started playing the church organ when I was 12 and I’m 75 now,” Mrs Lindesay said at the time.

“I presume it’s the people in the church that put this together, but I don’t know.

“Other than the church, I’ve just lived a normal life doing what I can for people and just trying to be a good person. I don’t feel as if I’m any different to anyone else.”

She added: “When she rang I thought it was a hoax, you get some funny phone calls these days, especially being elderly.

“I said, ‘You must be joking’ when she rang. It’s quite a shock really.”