COMMUNITY champion Denise Sage thought someone was playing a joke when she heard she was to be recognised by the Queen.

But Porlock stalwart Denise has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honours list.

And even after realising the accolade was not a prank, the self-effacing manager of Porlock Visitor Centre declared it was not deserved.

"I genuinely feel a fraud," she told the Free Press hours after the list was published.

"But at the same time, I'm a very excited and happy fraud!"

Denise has received the award in recognition of her services to the visitor centre and to the wider community.

But her involvement in village life and her commitment to Porlock has already been recognised with a High Sheriff of Somerset award in 2013 in recognition of exceptional or outstanding contribution to local life.

"Working in the visitor centre is my job so it seems wrong to be rewarded for that," said Denise.

"I work with such a fantastic team of people and I feel so privileged to live in this area."

Denise and her husband, who is a local parish councillor, moved to Porlock just over 16 years ago.

She has been at the heart of the community since she became a part-time member of staff at the visitor centre in 1997, taking over the role of manager in 1999.

But it was when foot and mouth disease struck the country in 2001 that her organisational skills and ability to get people 'on side' came to the fore.

Desperate to remove the impression that Exmoor was effectively closed to visitors, Denise set about galvanising local efforts to promote Porlock and save its economy, attracting national media coverage for the high profile she achieved.

She launched an open gardens event, now an annual highlight which raises hundreds of pounds for charity, and the following year was one of the prime organisers of the first Porlock Arts Festival.

Her other achievements include helping to reinstate the Porlock Summer Fair and being one of the driving forces behind the Exmoor Food Festival, the Exmoor brochure exchange, annual beach cleans, Porlock wassail and the Porlock Big Breakfast.

In addition, new traders in the village are always assured of a warm welcome, plenty of encouragement and a helping hand where possible.

In fact, Denise is largely credited for helping to put Porlock on the national map.

And, although busy, the grandmother of five still finds time for family and friends.

Denise was set to celebrate her honour at a New Year's Eve masked ball on Tuesday.

She has yet to be told when she will travel to Buckingham Palace to receive her award.

"I am looking forward to it because I must admit I do like a bit of a fuss."

* Stogursey resident Lady Elizabeth Gass has been made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of her services to the Queen.

Lady Gass has been the Queen's official representative in Somerset since 1998 when she was appointed as the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.

Membership of the Royal Victorian Order is conferred by the reigning monarch without ministerial advice in recognition of personal service to the sovereign.

Lady Gass, who lives at Fairfield House, is a former mathematics teacher, county councillor and Exmoor National Park Authority chairman.

She was made a High Sheriff of Somerset in 1994 and a Deputy Lieutenant for Somerset the following year.

In 1996 she was promoted to Vice Lord-Lieutenant and commissioned as a Justice of the Peace for the county, before taking up the position she still holds today.

As the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, she is expected to present awards and medals in the county on behalf of the Queen, attend civic and voluntary events as a representative of the Crown and liaise with local military units, reserve forces and cadets.

She also has to oversee all aspects of visits by members of the royal family, escort royal visitors and advise on local honours nominations.

* Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Lee Howell, was awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal.